Medical Center of Central Georgia

Caring for someone medically outside the traditional hospital setting is not a new idea. Well before modern medicine, people were cared for at home out of necessity. Caretakers of past generations usually consisted of family members or friends. Today, however, there are more options available, depending on the needs of the individual and family.

A shift in health care toward reduced hospital stays and an aging population are both factors that make home health, hospice, and elder care all growing parts of today’s health care scene. Each of these care approaches serves a different, yet important, function in the evolution of modern health care.

Home health care encompasses many services for many different types of patients, including, but not limited to, the elderly. Persons of any age who are disabled, chronically ill, or recovering from an acute illness may benefit from the services of a home health care provider.

Hospice service is provided for terminally ill patients who prefer the peace, comfort, and dignity of being at home or in a hospice setting.

Elder care encompasses many services developed to help older people maintain independent lives either at home or out-of-home, and receive the best care when independent living is no longer possible.

What is home health care?

Before modern medicine, caring for someone medically in the home was quite common, and hospitalization was rare. Today, with a growing trend toward reduced hospital stays, home health care is gaining popularity. While caregivers of the past were generally family members or friends, home health care today is based more on a professional health care team working toward a common goal.

Today home health care may be considered for patients who are:

recovering from an illness.
undergoing treatment.
disabled.
chronically ill.
terminally ill.
Home health care is not an option for everyone. Generally, the patient receiving care or treatment at home must be well enough to be cared for in the home setting.

Types of Home Health Care

Many types of medical and social home health care services are available and may include:

physician care
nursing care
physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy
medical social services
care from home health aides
homemaker or attendant care
companionship
volunteer care
nutritional support
medical equipment and supplies
laboratory and x-ray imaging
pharmaceutical services
transportation
home-delivered meals
A patient may receive one of these services or a combination of several services.