Home healthcare is an essential part of healthcare today, touching the lives of nearly every American. It encompasses a broad range of professional healthcare and support services provided in the home.

As hospital stays decrease, increasing numbers of patients need highly-skilled services when they return home. Homecare is necessary when a person needs ongoing care that cannot easily or effectively be provided solely by family and friends. Home healthcare services usually include assisting those persons who are recovering, disabled, chronically or terminally ill and are in need of medical, nursing, social, or therapeutic treatment and/or assistance with the essential activities of daily living.

Homecare services are typically provided by homecare organizations. There are a variety of homecare organizations, including Medicare certified home healthcare agencies, Visiting Nurse Agencies (VNAs); hospices; area agencies on aging, homemaker agencies; staff and private duty nursing agencies. Other companies may be utilized to deliver specialized services and products such as medical equipment and supplies, pharmaceuticals, and drug infusion therapy.

Homebound means that you have a normal inability to leave your home, or that it takes a considerable and taxing effort to leave home. Absences from the home must be infrequent or for a very short period of time, for example leaving your home for medical care. Time away from home should not last longer than one to two hours or occur more often than one to two times per week, such as attending a place of worship once a week. In general, you are homebound if you have an illness or injury, which restricts your ability to leave home unless you have help. Examples would be if you need a wheelchair, special transportation or help from another person to leave your home.

In most cases, if you are able to drive you are not considered homebound. If you leave your home for purposes other than to receive medical treatment and if the absences are long and frequent, such as frequent shopping trips or visits to friends, you are not deemed homebound. When you are able to leave your home, Medicare expects that any medical care you require will be provided in an outpatient setting.

A home health agency often indicates that a homecare provider is Medicare certified. A Medicare-certified agency has met federal minimum requirements for patient care and management and therefore can provide Medicare and Medicaid home health services. Individuals requiring skilled home healthcare services usually receive their care from a home health agency. Due to regulatory requirements, services provided by these agencies are highly supervised and controlled. Some agencies deliver a variety of homecare services through physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, homemakers and HCAs, durable medical equipment and supply dealers, and volunteers. Other home health agencies limit their services to nursing and one or two other specialties. Personnel are assigned according to the needs of each patient.

Hospice care involves a core interdisciplinary team of skilled professionals and volunteers who provide comprehensive medical, psychological, and spiritual care for the terminally ill and support for patients' families. Hospice care also includes the provision of related medications, medical supplies and equipment. It is based primarily in the home, enabling families to remain together. Trained hospice professionals are available 24-hours a day to assist the family in caring for the patient, ensure that the patient's wishes are honored, and keep the patient comfortable and free from pain. Most hospices are Medicare certified and licensed according to state requirements.

Services provided by a home healthcare agency vary depending upon the agency. VNA services range from skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech-language therapy, home health aide services, and medical social services to community wellness and adult day health programs. Hospice and palliative care services that assist patients and families with terminal illness are also provided by many VNAs. New medical technologies and specialized services are routinely provided in the home by VNAs. These can include infusion therapy, telemedicine and nutritional therapy. Click here for additional information regarding services provided.

People of all ages with acute and chronic healthcare needs can receive home healthcare services. Home healthcare is for persons who require healthcare from a professional or who need supportive assistance in the home environment. The payer(s) for these services typically determines what type of care is covered and who qualifies. In most cases medical orders from a physician are required for care. It is best to call your local VNA and ask for assistance. Find a Visiting Nurse Agency (VNA) near you now!

Home healthcare services provided by a VNA are usually available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year depending on the needs of the patient.

If the care is medically necessary and the patient meets certain coverage requirements then Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans will usually pay for home healthcare services. Medicaid coverage varies depending on the state in which you reside and of course, different private insurance carriers have different policies. For services that are not covered, patients may choose to pay out of their own pocket. Community groups subsidize some agencies and some receive funding from local and state government to assist patients in paying for their care when they have no available resources.

There are many important factors to consider in choosing the best agency to meet your needs.

First, assess what types of services you or your loved one will need and find an agency that offers those particular services.

Second, ask the agencies about their accreditations, licenses and certifications. You'll also want to evaluate the quality of care, skills and training of personnel at the agency under consideration.

If you chose a nonprofit home healthcare or VNA agency, then you receive care regardless of your complexity of condition or ability to pay. Nonprofit home healthcare agencies also provide a variety of community-benefits and by using them you are also giving back to your community. Find a nonprofit home healthcare agency or VNA near you or your loved one today - Search our Find a VNA

If you've selected your home health agency carefully, you'll most likely receive high-quality, safe, and effective homecare. If a problem develops or if you would like to issue a complaint, notify the agency administrator or chief supervisor. You may also issue a complaint to your state's department of health, Medicare hotline or your local Better Business Bureau.

Make sure you and your loved one are comfortable with the care you will receive. If you are uncomfortable with the first person to come out to your home, it is okay to ask for a different one with a different set of skills. It is important that you or your loved one are comfortable with the care you receive. Each person prefers different things so that nurse or aide could be great at their job but just not the right fit for you so chances are there is another person at their agency that is the perfect fit for you.

Federal law dictates that all home healthcare patients be informed of their rights and responsibilities. Your local VNA can provide you with a summary of patient's rights and responsibilities that are consistent with state laws.

Find a Visiting Nurse Agency (VNA) near you now!

You can use Medicare's "Home Health Compare" tool on the Website to compare home health agencies in your area. Visit www.medicare.gov, in "Search Tools," select "Compare Home Health Agencies in Your Area." You can compare home health agencies by the types of services they offer and the quality of care they provide. Home Health Compare provides the following information:

• Name, address and telephone number of the agency.
• Services offered by the agency (such as nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology services, medical/social services, and home health aide services).
• Initial date of the agency's Medicare certification.
• Type of ownership (for-profit, government, nonprofit).
• Information about the quality of care provided by the agency (quality measures).

According to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, this is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits. Also called "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans include Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations, Private Fee-for-Service Plans, Special Needs Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare services are covered through the plan, and aren't paid for under the Original Medicare Plan. Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage.

According to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, SHIP is a state program that receives money from the Federal government to provide free local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare.