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A Look At Home Health Care Pottsville PA

By Beryl Dalton


There are a variety of services designed to help seniors continue to live independently. For the individual who needs help on a daily basis but is no ready to go into a long term care facility, home health care Pottsville PA may be the solution. The services provided can keep the individual from entering skilled nursing prematurely. The patient who can recover at home often does better than the one who does not.

Services can include skilled nursing, physical and occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Help may be needed with performing activities of daily living, also referred to as ADLs. These ADLs include eating, bathing, and getting dressed. On a lower level of care the services might include light housekeeping, cooking, laundry, and monitoring the consumers management of medications.

It is vital that people understand the difference between health services and support services. Knowing the differences will ensure the person gets the appropriate assistance. Assistance for a medical condition may involve some of the same services provided by home support agencies. However, they typically help with the individuals medical need. The support service agency provides assistance with chores and the health care agency attends to the senior recovering from a medical condition.

The employees that treat consumers with medical issues are therapists, LPNs, and certified aides. They are licensed by the state and work for public health departments, hospitals, and agencies. On the other hand, folks who work for support services are not required to be licensed and may not even have to be certified depending on the agency policy.

When considering home health services it is important that the agency provides support that is of the highest quality. Check with friends and family to get information to help you make a decision. Also contact your local agency for aging to get information about the service providers near you. They might not be able to make a recommendation but the will offer some helpful information to use when you investigate.

There are quite a few questions you need to be asking when looking at different agencies. To start, you need to know how long an agency has been in business. Find out if they have a brochure outlining the services provided and their cost. It is vital to match the services with the needs of the patient. Any agency that is not able to meet the clients needs should be disregarded.

You should also find out what insurance is accepted by the agency. The services that are provided through a support agency are not usually covered by insurance, however medical services typically are. Check for certification by a national organization to ensure quality of care. Providers who are certified are held to a higher standard.

Before you start your search take a moment and jot down the questions that you want to get answers to. Ask to see the current license for each agency and ask about their insurance. Also inquire about the level of supervision provided on each case. Make sure you are comfortable with the agency you choose. It is also important to make sure there is always communication between the provider, agency, and the family.




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