About This Service
Thank you for visiting our Nursing and Therapies page. This page is going to provide a general overview of nursing and therapies including common misconceptions and the most common way these services are funded, which is through Medicare. After the overview, we provide more detail on each service, including who provides them and what to expect. Next, we include another way people pay for these services, which is self-pay or private-pay. Finally, we end with how to contact us to begin your home care journey.
When someone begins researching home care options, their first impression might be that home care consists of nurses who come to your home to help you. That is sometimes true, but there is a lot more to home care than that. Home care also includes care provided by physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists (also known as, ‘speech and language pathologists’), home care aides, certified nurse assistants and social workers. One key point is that Cooperative Home Care provides every type of home care service. When you choose us, you are assured we can help you access every type of home care funding before you pay out-of-pocket, and that one company can meet all of your home care needs.
Focusing on nursing and therapies first, the individuals providing these services are licensed to do so. The care they provide is considered skilled care and one way it is funded by Medicare. While there are exceptions, Medicare home health care services are limited to episodes of 30 days or less. They are designed to help you improve and recover following a hospitalization or decline in function when you are unable to leave your home as a result of your health status. Your physician must prescribe your home health care services including frequency (how many per week) and type (nursing, physical, occupational and/or speech therapies) of visits. The nurses and therapists who provide your care update your physician on your progress throughout your episode.
When you receive nursing services, they may be from a registered nurse (“RN”), or a RN as well as a licensed practical nurse (“LPN”) who provides services under the direction of the RN. Common nursing services provided through Medicare home health care include but are not limited to diabetic care, diabetic wound care, congestive heart failure care, and post-surgical care.
When you receive therapy services, they will be from a physical and/or occupational therapist (“PT” and/or “OT”). You may also receive services from therapy assistants (“PTA” and “COTA”) who work under the direction of their PT and/or OT. You may also receive Speech Therapist and Social Worker services if prescribed. Your therapists’ treatment plans include functional activities to improve your safety and independence. To learn more about Medicare home health care services, visit Medicare.gov, as well as other pages on our website including 12 & 24-Hour Care and Home After Hospitalization. When you read a variety of explanations of home care and how it works, it increases your understanding of this complex topic.
In addition to receiving nursing and therapy services through Medicare home health, one may receive them through Private home care services. Private Services are mainly funded by long-term care insurance and self-pay. When someone needs ongoing assistance at home beyond Medicare home health care, Private Services fills this gap. These services include assistance with one’s daily activities like rising, showering, meal preparation and medication reminders, as well as general supervision and companionship. The majority of this kind of assistance is provided by caregivers including home care aides and/or certified nurse assistants. Nursing services are also available through Private Services. A nurse can complete a weekly wellness visit and pack your aging loved one’s medications for the week, for example. This oversight provides peace of mind that your loved one’s medications are accurate and that if a health concern arises, it can be addressed promptly. When your aging loved one does not need regular assistance at home, a weekly nurse visit is still helpful for providing that peace of mind, as well as to gently introduce home care into your aging loved one’s life. In this way, if their needs change and they need more help at home, you already have a relationship with a home care company and they are already accustomed to having help at home.
If you are researching options to receive nursing and therapies at home, our Intake Nurse is available to help. Our nurse is pleased to answer your specific questions about home care, including nursing and therapies and how to qualify for these services. She can also schedule your free, no obligation assessment. During your assessment, our Client Services Supervisor meets with you and your aging loved one to answer all of your questions about home care. He or she will also create a care plan based on your home care needs and budget. Even if you are not ready to move forward, a care plan is useful because it helps you visualize how home care can be incorporated into your aging loved one’s life. You can also complete all of the paperwork needed to start services so that you are completely prepared when you make the decision to start home care services.
