People are living much longer and utilizing Medicare more than ever before. Home Health Care News reports a study recently put out by Excel Health showing more than 1.2 million Americans enrolled in Medicare from the first quarter of 2017 through the end of the first quarter of 2018. This increase in enrollment is especially highlighted by the increase in the use of home health care and hospice services. Data from the fourth quarter of 2017 shows a sharp rise in home health care admissions from the same point in the previous year due, in part, to the severity of the 2017 flu season.
More and more, seniors are utilizing home health care services in Melbourne, FL and beyond. Are you in search of the best at home health care services for yourself or someone you care for? How do you know what type of care is best the best for your needs? Sometimes the answer is glaringly obvious as the need is acute whilst other times you may not know exactly what you need. Champion Home Health Care knows that you have multiple options available to you when making this decision. We are proud to serve seniors in Brevard County with a full spectrum of at-home health care services available to the seniors in and around Melbourne, FL.
The first step in determining what company is best for you is to know the level of care needed. This is extremely important and will help you determine whether or not an agency is capable of handling your needs. Not all in-home health care agencies are the same. It is tempting to go with the first company you find on a quick internet search, but dig deeper before signing a contract. You have choices. You need to determine what the needs are and then choose accordingly. Generally speaking, agencies provide two types of care:
Custodial Care
General housework, cooking, chore services, companionship, food preparation, bathing, grooming, dressing, etc. are the types of care considered here. In the past, custodial care was often referred to as “non-skilled” care because it is not medical in nature.
Medical Care
Many times, medical care is needed to keep seniors in their homes as long as possible. This can range from 24-hour nursing care to diabetes monitoring, pre and post-operative care and wound management to dementia and Alzheimer’s care. You need to make sure the company you are considering hiring is capable of addressing the needs at hand with competency and compassion.
Let’s take a look at an example. Patients discharged from the hospital with a Post-Acute Care plan of action need to be cared for strategically and by competent medical professionals. Champion Home Health Care provides round-the-clock nursing services for those recovering post-op and can fulfill care plans. However, not all home health care services are able to provide this level of care. Be sure that the company you choose is qualified to handle the task at hand. As you can see here, a facility that only offers custodial care would not be a good fit for this need. This is why it is important to do your research.
Once you have narrowed down your search, be sure to ask pointed specific questions to the provider to help make your selection. The in-home health service should have informational literature for you to read that may answer some of your questions as well. The National Association for Home Care and Hospice has an extensive list of questions to consider as well. Here is a brief sampling:
- Are family members included in the plan of care action plan?
- How long has the provider been in the community?
- How are employees trained?
- What is the employment process for staff both custodial and medical?
- Are there written procedures in place to protect the patient?
- How is 24/7 care managed?
- How is the confidentiality of the patient protected?
Choosing a home health care service is a major life decision and we want you to be armed with the best information available to assist you with this process. Please know that Champion Home Health Care is here to speak with you at any time regarding our services and would be glad to answer any questions you have. Contact our office today.