As the population of the nation ages, more people are finding themselves in what has been called the "sandwich generation". They are simultaneously responsible for caring for their aging parents as well as their own children. They are "sandwiched" in between these two responsibilities. Chances are a significant number will be making some major health care decisions on behalf of parents-sometimes with their input and sometimes without, as necessity dictates.
If this situation describes you, then you'll be glad you've found this article. One of the first things you'll want to do is make certain you've considered a qualified home health agency as a solution to your loved one's health care issue, instead of a nursing home or care center. It is almost universally true that patients will have better outcomes when they can be cared for in their own homes.
Many home health agencies offer a wide spectrum of care from assistance with tasks of daily living such as bathing, meal preparation and light cleaning, to 24-hour nursing and hospice services. But, by contrast some are very narrow in their scope of care. You'll want to be certain that the home health agency you select has the capability to perform additional services, as they are needed.
As time passes, your family member may become more incapacitated and require additional services. It is essential to select an agency which has the capability to continue to provide services so your family member won't have the additional stress of transferring to a care center or learning to accept new care providers.
Home health agencies such as Family Home Care & Hospice (FHC), based in Spokane, Washington, serve as a prime example of an organization with the resources to "grow" with the patient.
"We have specifically planned our service offerings so that we can continue to serve patients in their homes for as long as medically practical," explained Michael Nowling, President of FHC. "All our experience points to better outcomes for both the patient and the family if they can be effectively cared for within their own homes."
Medicare keeps records on home health agencies and has recently recognized Nowling and FHC as one of the top one percent of home health agencies in the state of Washington and also among the top three percent of home health agencies in the nation. The recognition, which is based on monitoring of patient outcomes, lends credence to Nowling's commitment to providing the types of services which will keep patients at home as long as possible. The Medicare database is available online at http://www.medicare.gov/HHCompare/home.asp. Visiting the site will allow you to compare patient outcome statistics of any qualified home health agency you may be evaluating.
Most home health agencies have a standard schedule of services, but it is also important for you to ask about any specialized services the agency may provide. You may never need any of these more rare specialties, but in the even you do, you will have the confidence of knowing they are available through your current provider. Types of services in this category may include enteral therapy, wound care specialists or primary care medical services. Be certain to ask your home health agency if these or other specialized services are provided.
A constant battle in any home health agency is recruiting and maintaining qualified personnel. It is critical for you to explore the home health agency's policies for background checks and on-going employee education and training.
"It's tough to get a job at FHC," noted Nowling, "but we're not sorry about that. In fact, that's the way it should be. We've built a great organization as a direct result of our strict qualifications and hiring protocols. We have a staff of professionals who hold themselves to the highest standards of practice and patient care and we support them in that effort. They work hard. They love their patients and it shows. They tend to stay at FHC much longer than is the average for home health agencies. This translates into better outcomes for patients and is a large part of the reason we've been so highly ranked by Medicare."
As important as finding and keeping good people is to your positive experience with a home health agency, it is equally important to make sure the agency has an aggressive program in place to keep their staff trained and up to date with the latest techniques and practices. Find out how they train and educate their staff.
"Much of the highly technical medical devices can now be used in a home setting," continued Nowling. "It's part of our mission to keep our staff in touch with all the most recent improvements in health care delivery."
Insurance coverage is also an important consideration in selecting a home health agency. Most home health agencies will accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance, including long term care policies. But this is definitely one of the first questions you should get answered in your search. Insurance coverages for home health will depend not only on the status of the home health agency, but also on your particular insurance policy. Rather than taking the time to comb through the legalese of the policy, it is often much more accurate and fast to simply talk to a customer service representative at the insurance company.
Try this simple checklist for your evaluation:
Find a qualified home health agency or two for your list
Find out what is on their list of standard services
Determine the extent of their specialized services
Check out your selections by visiting: http://www.medicare.gov/HHCompare/home.asp
Ask about their hiring and screening policies
Ask about their staff training programs
Find out if insurance will cover home health, and if your agency will accept your insurance
Making critical decisions about health care is part of your role in the "sandwich generation". Make certain you do your best to consider all the available options, including putting qualified home health agencies on your evaluation list. Your family member will be glad you did--and so will you.
Article Source: http://www.orbitaloc.com/
Serving the Inland Northwest for more than 40 years, Family Home Care & Hospice is synonymous with Spokane home care. FHC's history of patient outcomes gained recognition by Medicare as being among the top one percent of agencies in Washington State.
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