The Future of Home Health Care
With the declaration of MCO in Malaysia, many have seen an increase in demand for home health care for the elderly. This is great news for the home care industry since home health care services are one of the great ways to care for patients in therapy, the elderly, or patients whose conditions are not likely to improve but do not require the full care provided by a hospital. If you’re looking into getting a home health care service or simply want to know more about home health care, read on to find out what it is and how beneficial it is now and in the future.
The Future of Home Health Care
Home health care services are any professional support services that cater to people of any age who need medical assistance at home. These may be people who are aging and need assistance to live independently; are managing chronic health issues; are recovering from a medical setback, or have special needs or a disability. Professional caregivers such as nurses, aides, and therapists provide short-term or long-term care in the home, depending on a person’s needs.
These are numerous types of services home health care can provide depending on the needs of a person. These may include:
- Doctor or nursing care
- Physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy
- Help with daily activities such as dressing and bathing
- Assistance with safely managing tasks around the house
- Companionship
- Volunteer care
- Short-or long-term nursing care for an illness, disease, or disability – including tracheostomy and ventilator care
The goal of home health care is simple – to help individuals recover from the comfort of their homes. According to Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses, the goals of home health care service are to help individuals improve function and live with greater independence; to promote the client’s optimal level of well-being; and to assist the patient to remain at home, avoiding hospitalization or admission to long-term care institutions. Many families have chosen this alternative as the best option of care for their loved ones as it has been proven effective and cost-efficient through the years.
BENEFITS OF HOME HEALTH CARE
Studies have shown that being treated at home can help patients improve faster while reducing costs. A new study published in The American Journal of Accountable Care states that home health is truly a beneficial alternative to hospitalization for patients who do not necessarily need to be in a hospital. The study revealed that patients treated at home resulted in lower in-patient hospital readmissions and a reduction in utilization and associated costs. Other benefits include:
1. Better recovery – This may be attributed to the unlimited access to loved ones, the flexibility of schedule, and decreased exposure to viruses compared to being confined in a hospital setting. Patients are able to sleep and recover without getting disrupted by nurse or doctor rounds.
2. Economical – Opting for home health care can be an economical choice with home care being less expensive than paying full-time room and board at a nursing facility or assisted living center. A study conducted by investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has shown that cost of care was nearly 40 percent lower. Their study states, “Researchers measured the total direct cost of care, including costs for non-physician labor, supplies, tests, and medications. The findings indicate that patients receiving at-home care had total costs that were almost 40 percent lower than for patients treated conventionally.”
3. More flexibility and independence – Patients in a home care set up have more flexibility with food schedules and have more freedom of movement and receiving guests. They are not limited to visiting hours and are able to see visitors whenever and for how long patients want.
HOME CARE AT THE TIME OF PANDEMIC
COVID-19 has innovated health care in so many ways – one of which is reinforcing the benefits of utilizing the home health industry. In an article released by forbes.com, they revealed that home health care is a bright light during the COVID-19 and with an even brighter future! This is based on the discovery that home health care is deemed to be the preferred site of care among patients and providers during the pandemic.
In a recent Kaufman survey, Consumer Attitudes Inform Post-COVID Recovery, 54% of consumers cited fear of contracting Covid-19 as a primary reason to delay care, with 43% citing fear of going to the hospital as the reason. Because of this, there has been an increase in home-health care requests for getting treatment at home.
The increase in demand for home health care is not only limited to the US but is also seen in Malaysia. With the elderly being at a higher risk of contracting the virus, more and more Malaysian families opt to choose to get care or treatment from trained health personnel for their loved ones at home. This ensures that the elderly will be kept at home while lowering the risk of hospitalization. D2D Life, a home-based health care and non-healthcare support service social enterprise based in Malaysia, provides these home health care services.
When it comes to safety for both the patient and the health personnel, home care agencies have quickly provided extensive training on infectious disease control, care protocols, client monitoring, and the proper use of PPE since the beginning of the pandemic. And with vaccinations being carried out across the world, protection is ensured for both parties to continue treatment at the comfort of the patient’s home.
CONCLUSION
Home health care is a tremendously beneficial option to hospitalization especially during this time of a pandemic. With older adults and patients with comorbidities more at risk of the COVID-19 virus, it is best to reduce the risk of their exposure by staying at home and receiving treatment at the comfort of their homes rather than going to the hospital.
Aside from gaining better recovery, being close to loved ones, and a huge reduction in costs, convenience and lower risk of virus exposure are the most beneficial advantages to choosing a home health care set up for your loved ones.