Women Today

Today, our friends at Uniy Hospice offer information on the difference between home health care and palliative care:

According to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Census, approximately 6.5 million senior citizens need assistance with daily living activities.

In-home assistance is available through many programs designed to supplement the care of on-site caregivers. Confusion often exists between home health care and the more recent program, palliative care.

While both home health care and palliative care bring support in the home, the fundamental difference between the two care options is that home health is designed for short-term interventions with a focus on rehabilitation.

Palliative care is a longer-term option addressing continuity of care across the spectrum of a patient’s illness.

The following outlines the difference between the two programs, using real life examples. Criteria for patient use of each program are highlighted below.

Home Health:

--Short-term/intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy or speech language pathology

--Homebound – patient must be home except to go out for doctor’s visits

--Under physician’s care plan

--Receive services from a Medicare-participating home health agency

Palliative Care:

--Longer-term/continuous skilled nursing care

--Address physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs and expectations

--Patient is not required to be homebound

--Under physician’s care plan

--Private pay reimbursement for services

The following example is used to illustrate when home health and palliative care services may be appropriate for a patient.

Patient History: Patient is diabetic and has experienced amputation of the lower right leg.
Care Options:

--Home Health. Should the patient elect home health care following amputation and release from the hospital, this is for a short-term rehabilitative period. Once the patient’s home health benefit runs out, the patient has the option to elect palliative care.

--Palliative Care. The patient may elect palliative care immediately following amputation and release from the hospital. Palliative care would then continue until the patient elects to discharge from the program.

Professionals at local home health care and palliative care providers will be able to help patients and families better understand the programs and determine which one fits their needs and care goals.

Unity, leaders in hospice and palliative care, provides comfort care to people of all ages throughout Northeast Wisconsin. Whether at a private home, nursing home or assisted living facility, Unity’s skilled team of nurses, physicians, social workers, nursing assistants, chaplains, volunteers and grief counselors ensure the best quality of life for both the patient and family, based on the individual’s needs and wishes. A not-for-profit health care provider, Unity is dedicated to ensuring that all individuals and the communities in which they reside have access to education, support and quality holistic care.