Did you know? 

By 2050, the number of individuals in need of long-term care will increase by over 200% to 27 million¹. 

As the baby boomer generation continues aging, more people are in need of home health care services.  These essential services help people remain independent and in their homes, greatly contributing to their quality of life.  United Way continues to fund these programs and that’s why this week’s Issue At Hand is Home Health Care.

How can home health care benefit a patient’s quality of life? 

In addition to medical care and maintenance, home health aides assist in activities of daily living (ADL). 

84% of home health care patients have at least one ADL limitation, which include bathing, dressing, transferring, using the bathroom and eating².  40% of home health care patients live alone and need this assistance to remain in their homes³.  It’s the one-on-one care that makes a difference in patient’s lives and helps them to maintain a quality of life free of frequent hospital visits.

What kinds of home health services are available? 

Home health care professionals provide a wide range of services from wound care to physical and speech therapy, to administering injections⁴.  Another important aspect of home health care is teaching patients and their caregivers how to manage their conditions on their own.  Education is key to avoiding future hospital stays.

Who provides home health care in our community? 

Visiting Nurse Association offers home health care in the Omaha-Council Bluffs community on a sliding fee scale to make sure no patient is left uncared for.  They’re in the business of keeping people in their homes which, in turn, strengthens our community.  See how these nurses used care and compassion improve one man’s quality of life:

Did you know? 

Last year, United Way designated over $900,000 to home health care services in the Omaha-Council Bluffs-Bellevue metro area. 

Through home health care, patients and their families receive peace of mind from qualified professionals in their own homes.  Keeping individuals independent and healthy is central to the well-being of our community. 
 

¹ Caffrey, Christine, Manisha Sengupta, Abigail Moss, Lauren Harris-Kojetin, and Roberto Valverde. Home Health Care and Discharged Hospice Care Patients: United States, 2000 and 2007. Rep. no. 38. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 27 Apr. 2011. Web. 30 Jan. 2012. <www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr038.pdf>.

² Ibid

³ Ibid

⁴ "What Is Home Health Care?" Medicare.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Web. 2 Feb. 2012. <http://www.medicare.gov/homehealthcompare/about/gettingcare/whatishomehealthcare.aspx>.