| Home health care in Illinois is the option of choice | | | | of Medicare; and the home health care agency |
| for seniors who can take care of themselves and | | | | must be a certified Medicare provider. |
| live independent lives, but who still require some | | | | How do you choose the right program for you or |
| medical supervision or assistance. Some of the | | | | your loved one? Ask your friends, doctor, or local |
| assistance which home healthcare services | | | | agency for the elderly for recommendations and |
| provide include nursing, physical therapy, and | | | | suggestions. Take into consideration also how long |
| occupational therapy. Supervision and | | | | an agency has been in business; whether it is |
| administration of medications is often given. | | | | approved by Medicare; is it accredited by e.g. the |
| Sometimes assistance is provided with meals, | | | | Joint Commission for the Accreditation of |
| dressing, bathing, and housekeeping. The | | | | Healthcare Organizations; is it licensed; are the |
| difference between home care services and | | | | responsibilities of the agency and the rights of |
| home health care is that the former relates more | | | | patients clearly enumerated; is each patient |
| to housekeeping, cooking, etc., whereas care | | | | provided with an individual health care plan which is |
| health home Illinois relates more to medical and | | | | frequently updated as the patient's situation |
| nursing care, for patients who are recovering | | | | changes; is emergency medical assistance available |
| from medical problems but who do not require | | | | 24 / 7; what financial assistance is available; will |
| permanent medical supervision. | | | | the agency provide a list of recent references? |
| Home health care costs vary depending upon the | | | | The consumer should also consider the possibility |
| location, the specific type of health care worker | | | | that the patient's needs might change in the |
| and the extent of services needed. Public and | | | | future. Also, back-up personnel should be available |
| private financial assistance programs are often | | | | in case the principal health care worker is |
| available, principally Medicare and Medicaid, the | | | | unavailable. Whether a home healthcare in Illinois |
| Veterans' Administration, the Older Americans | | | | worker is hired from an agency or independently, |
| Act, and private insurance companies. Home | | | | the consumer should spend some time discussing |
| health care can be paid for by the Medicare | | | | exactly what the daily routine will involve. This |
| program if the following conditions are all met: the | | | | includes specific information such as medical needs |
| patient must under a doctor's care and confined | | | | and medication schedules; dietery restrictions; |
| to home; the patient requires regular - but not | | | | exercise program; special needs and disabilities; |
| continual - nursing care or physical or occupational | | | | general likes and dislikes; where to find needed |
| therapy; the patient must fulfill the requirements | | | | items in the home; and so on. |