Home Health Care & Home Care
Home health care and home care helps older adults live independently for as long as possible, even with an illness or injury. It covers a wide range of services and can often delay the need for long-term nursing home care. Home health care may include occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, and skilled nursing. It may involve helping older adults with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating. It can also include assistance with cooking, cleaning, other housekeeping, and monitoring one’s medication regimen.
What is Home Health Care & Home Care?
It is important to understand the difference between home health care and home care services. Although home health care may include some home care services, it is medical in nature. Home care services include chores, housecleaning, and sitter services, whereas home health care usually involves helping someone to recover from an illness or injury.
Home health care professionals are often licensed practical nurses, therapists, or home health aides. Most of them work for home health agencies, hospitals, or public health departments licensed by the state.
Is Home Health Care or Home Care Right For Me?
Home health care is designed to help the patient rest, recover, and receive treatment in the comfort of their own home or residence. Services provided by home health care are offered with the goal of helping the patient regain independence to become as self-sufficient as possible while also managing their disease or condition.
Home health care can benefit both acute and chronic conditions, including but not limited to the following:
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Alzheimer’s Disease
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Chronic kidney disease
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
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Diabetes
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Heart disease
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Recovery from illness or surgery
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Chronic conditions or injuries
In addition to providing medically necessary services for the treatment of the above conditions, home health care professionals act as a liaison between the patient, the patient’s family, and the patient’s doctor. Home health care professionals keep a log for each visit and provide updates on the patient’s condition to the doctor as needed. This helps to ensure continuity of care.
If you don’t need medical care, but you could still use some helping hands around the home and with some of your personal care tasks, home care could be a great solution for you. Home care provides assistance with homemaking, personal care, running errands, and sometimes transportation.
What Services Are Included in Assisted Living Communities?
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- Meal Services
- Transportation
- Activities
- Group Outings
- Wellness programs
- Medication Management
- Assistance with Activities of Daily Living
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Bathing
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Grooming
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Dressing
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Toileting
All communities offer different levels of support. It’s important to understand your loved one’s needs so that they can be matched with the best community for them. Click here to take our placement assessment to learn which community is the best fit for your loved one.
How Much Does Assisted Living Cost?
According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of assisted living is $3,748 per month in Louisiana. Please note this does not include the cost for levels of care.
Assisted Living is not covered by Medicare or Medicaid in Louisiana. Assisted Living is covered by long-term care insurance policies, which are purchased from an insurance broker.
If you are a veteran, you may qualify for Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Benefits. Click here for more information.