One might think that home health care is not for her. Perhaps, she is still fairly self-sufficient. Perhaps, he still walks a mile a day. Perhaps, he is the one that his neighbors rely on for transportation. Maybe, he or she is all of these things; but, what if the one who drives has an unsteady gait? Or, the one who walks has trouble reading his medication labels properly. The one that is self-sufficient may have trouble getting to the store to get her groceries. How about you? Do you or a loved one have that one small area of vulnerability or concern? Home Health Care could be your easy answer.

The clues to whether you should consider home health care are not hard to find. Have you or someone you know recently said, “My daughter is so busy with her own family; I really don’t want to bother her again” or “Sometimes I would just like someone to talk to.” Do any of the following characteristics sound like someone you know?

• Struggles to maintain a clean home
• Is not easily able to shower/bathe or groom
• Struggles to take medication correctly
• Forgets or is unable to cook balanced meals
• Spends too much time alone
• Has visual difficulties
• Becomes occasionally confused
• Has trouble navigating the home or uses an assistive device such as a walker or cane
• Struggles with incontinence
• Has fallen or is concerned about falling

What exactly will a home health care agency do?

Depending on the type of service a person utilizes, a home health care agency can do just about anything!

• Companionship
• Errands
• Housekeeping
• Meal Preparation
• Laundry
• Assistance with Bathing/Grooming/Dressing
• Medication Reminders
• Nail Care
• Respite for family caregivers
• Nursing and Therapy Services such as:
  • Medication set-up
  • Physical assessments
  • Physical, speech, and occupational therapies
  • Medical social work
  • Dressing changes and wound care
  • Diabetic nail care

I don’t need someone all the time

Many home health care agencies are very willing to assist customers as little or as often as they like. An agency can be utilized on an as-needed, semi-regular, or regular basis, scheduling time with its clients for as few as two hours at a time (or less) and up to 24 hours per day.

Client Stories

If you are still wondering if home health care is applicable in your life, consider the following client stories. Each illustrates different uses and benefits of home health care.

• Curt and Helen have been married for 62 years. Two years ago, the family started noticing signs of Alzheimer’s disease in Helen. Over the past six months, the disease quickly progressed. Complicated by a bout of pneumonia, she is now unable to stand, walk, talk or feed herself. Curt loves his wife very much and has a tremendous support system in his daughter and son in-law. Curt continues to be the primary caregiver for his wife, but relies on his home health care agency for support in a number of areas. “I wouldn’t know what to do without our caregiver, Rita. Remembering everything I am supposed to do is difficult. Rita is like a part of the family. There are many skilled professionals that would have a hard time competing with Rita’s wisdom and intuition as it pertains to her care for Helen. Rita’s instruction and direction helps me keep Helen home with me.”
• Roger is a single 68-year-old home health care client. Roger has early onset dementia, diabetes, neuropathy, heart irregularities, and depression. After having a pacemaker put in, his doctor prescribed home health care to assist with daily routines that would be complicated until he healed from surgery. The nurse helped him with his dressings, his medications, and regular assessments. After Roger recovered, he continued to use home health care to help him keep his medicines on track, straighten his house, help with laundry, and prepare healthy meals. As a result, his diabetes, neuropathy, depression, and dementia have all improved.

How do I pay for these services?

Before assuming that you cannot afford to pay for these services; call a home health care agency (see the Spring Issue of LIVING WELL Greater Springfield on 10 Things To Ask Before Hiring a Home Care Agency) to discuss your particular situation. Often times, these services can be authorized and paid for by Medicaid or Medicare. If the services that you need are not covered by insurance, a good home care agency will do a free assessment to help you determine what your needs are and the number of hours required to meet your needs. After doing so, you will be able to understand your total cost before moving forward. Generally, there are no contracts to sign that will commit you to a specific time period.

How can this be my new beginning?

A home health care agency is not designed to take over your life; it is intended to improve the quality of life for you or a loved one. Why not consider those areas in life that cause pain or concern and turn that over to someone else?

With over 20 years of experience, Phoenix Home Care provides caregivers, nurse aides, and nurses to care for people in their home. Phoenix Home Care came to be as a result of our commitment to improve the quality of life for those we serve. Each of our principles has experienced the need for home care for our own loved ones. Each has understood what truly matters. It is that desire to share the freedom of new beginnings that drives the team at Phoenix Home Care.

Our mission: To offer new beginnings and meaningful opportunities for our caregivers and clinicians while providing home care services built on innovation, skill and Christ-like values of compassion, honesty and patience.

Phoenix Home Care can be reached at 417-881-7442 or at our corporate office located at 3033 S. Kansas Expressway, Springfield. OUR MISSION:
To offer new beginnings and meaningful opportunities to caregivers and clinicians while providing home care services built on innovation, skill and Christ-like values of compassion, honesty and patience.enix Home Care.