The facts on home health services for children

Home care is one of those services that people don’t usually learn about until they need it. There’s a lot to understand if your child needs care at home, and it can be overwhelming.

So what is home care exactly? Home health care services for children range from short-term care like follow-up after an early discharge from the hospital, to long-term care for a chronic illness or disability.

In addition to clinical care, many medically-fragile children also need personal care. Personal care services help children who need special assistance to remain safely at home. This can include bathing and dressing, exercising and playing, light housekeeping and meal preparation, and even student care services at school and on trips. Home care professionals can also provide respite care for family caregivers who need rest to cope with the stress of caring for a technology-dependent child.

Depending on the type of care needed, home health caregivers may be nurses, home health aides, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, or social workers. Each child’s situation is unique. There are also different sources of reimbursement for home health services. Home care companies coordinate and accept reimbursement from private health insurances, HMOs, auto insurances, Medicaid, and other governmental programs.

The advantages of home care for families are many. According to research done by Texas University, “The home environment is where children want to be. Less-threatening and more familiar, it strengthens the family’s sense of unity and provides easier access to the child’s loved ones. Control over the child’s care is given back to the parents.” Families also appreciate not having to travel back and forth to a hospital, which can often be far away and add to their financial burden.

Home care experts like Allentown’s Bayada Nurses Director, Heather Fotopoulos, say another key advantage is the home care nurse. “This highly-skilled professional is a wealth of information, security, compassion and support at a time when parents need it most.” As they work collaboratively with the family and the child’s medical team, they teach parents how to care for their children and cope with their new situation. Their knowledge of the family’s local area also helps them connect families to important community resources.

If your child needs home care services, the next challenge is to pick the right home care provider for your family. All home health care companies are different and range from staffing agencies to comprehensive service organizations that specialize in pediatric care. The next installment in this home care series will give you a practical guide to the questions you need answered to ensure your child will receive the highest quality home care services available.