| WHAT ARE HOME HEALTH AND COMPANION SERVICES? |
Companionship Care or Home Care is a form of health care service provided where a patient lives. Patients can receive these services whether they live in their own homes, with or without family members, or in an assisted living facility. The purpose of home care is to promote, maintain, or restore a patient's health and reduce the effects of disease or disability. The goal of home care is to provide for the needs of the patient to allow the patient to remain living at home, regardless of age or disability. After surgery, a patient may require home care services that may range from such homemaking services as cooking or cleaning to personal cares. Caregivers can be Certified Nursing Assistants, Nursing Assistants, or a Personal Care Attendant. Some patients require home health aides or personal care attendants to help them with activities of daily living (ADL). The list below is an example of activities of daily living. Personal CareLight Housekeeping/Companionship The caregivers can be assigned to the patient for one to twenty four hours depending on the needs of the patient. This is usually determined when the agency meets with the family to set-up the care plan. These services are paid for through Medicaid, Long Term Care Insurance, or privately. Home health aides provide what is called custodial care in domestic settings; their duties are similar to those of nurses' aides in the hospital. Professionals who deliver care to patients in their homes are employed either by independent for-profit home-care agencies, hospital agencies, or hospital departments. Personal care attendants can also be hired privately by patients; however, not only is it more difficult to evaluate an employee's specific background and credentials when he or she is not associated with a certified agency or hospital, but medical insurance may not cover the expense of an employee who does not come from an approved source.
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Resource Guide for Home Health and Companion Agencies
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