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Many providers offer home care services, including:
- home health agencies
- hospices
- homemaker and home care aide agencies
- staffing or private-duty agencies
- medical equipment and supply companies
- home infusion or pharmaceutical (medicine) companies
Some home care providers are professionals who do not work for
any kind of agency. Some agencies are registries that keep lists of
professionals and workers for hire. Sometimes, several types of home
care providers may work together so they can offer a wide range of
services.
The choice of a home care provider is an important one for
you, your family, and your doctor. To help you make the best choice, we
will review the types of home care agencies and suggest some questions
you might want to ask. They type of agency you choose will most often
depend on your health care needs. In most areas of the United States
you can find many very good home care services. Here we will give you
more detail on the types of services that are available.
Home health agencies
If you need skilled home care services, they will usually be
given by a home health agency. The same agency may offer different
kinds of home care services through nurses, therapists, social workers,
homemakers and home care aides, medical equipment and supply dealers,
and volunteers. Some agencies limit their services to nursing and 1 or
2 other specialties. If care is needed from more than one specialist,
the home health agency will set up a team to provide care that covers
your needs. Because home health agencies hire and supervise their
personnel, they assume liability for all care. Home care services are
usually available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, though most home
services are done during the day when possible.
Hospice care
This type of care involves a core team of skilled experts and
volunteers who provide all-around medical, psychological, and spiritual
care when cure is no longer possible. Hospice care is usually based at
home so that families take part in the patient's care. Trained hospice
professionals are on call 24 hours a day. They help the family care for
the patient, help ensure that the patient's wishes are honored, and
keep the patient comfortable and free of pain. They also help support
the family through this time. Many hospice programs are Medicare
certified and licensed according to state requirements. For more
information on this topic, please see our information, Hospice Care.
Homemaker and home care aide agencies
These agencies help patients by preparing meals and helping
them bathe, dress, and keep house. They may also sit with patients who
cannot be left alone for medical or safety reasons. This is sometimes
called "companion service." Some states require that these agencies be
licensed and meet certain standards of care.
Pharmaceutical and infusion therapy
companies
These companies deliver medicines, equipment, and nursing
services for people who need intravenous (IV) fluids, nutrition, or
treatments. They also give special feedings through tubes that are
placed in the stomach or intestine (tube feedings). Nurses teach
patients and family members to give these medicines, fluids, or
feedings in the patient's home. They often stop in later on to be sure
everything is working well, and you can call them if there are
problems. Some pharmaceutical and infusion therapy companies are
certified by Medicare.
Durable medical equipment and supply dealers
These companies provide products ranging from breathing
machines (respirators), wheelchairs, and walkers, to catheter and
wound-care supplies. They deliver these products, install or set them
up, and teach patients and caregivers how to use them. Most of these
companies do not give physical care to patients, but a few offer
pharmacy and infusion services. They may provide a nurse to give
medicine and tube feedings to patients and teach the patient and family
the proper way to give these on their own. Some offer respiratory
therapy services to help patients use breathing equipment. Those that
bill Medicare must meet federal minimum standards. Some states require
that these companies be licensed.
Staffing registries/private-duty agencies
Private-duty agencies provide people with nursing, homemaker,
home care aide, and companion services. In most cases, these agencies
are not licensed or regulated by the government. Staffing registries
often serve as employment agencies for home care nurses and aides. They
match the provider with the patient and collect a finder's fee.
Independent providers
These are nurses, therapists, aides, homemakers, and
companions who are privately employed by those who need their services.
The patient or family must recruit, hire, and supervise the provider.
The patient or family pays the provider directly.
Last Medical Review: 05/19/2009
Last Revised: 05/19/2009
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