TWENTY REASONS FOR HOME CARE
by Val J. Halamandaris

1) It is delivered at home. There are such positive feelings that all of us associate with being home.

2) Home care represents the best tradition in American health care. Home health agencies were started as public agencies to seek out the poor and needy who otherwise would go without care.

3) Home care keeps families together. It is particularly important in times of illness.

4) Home care serves to keep the elderly in independence. With some assistance, seniors can continue to function as viable members of society.

5) Home care prevents or postpones institutionalization.

6) Home care promotes healing. There is scientific evidence that patients heal more quickly at home.

7) Home care is safer. It is not uncommon for patients to develop new health problems as a result of being hospitalized. The risks are eliminated when care is given at home.

8) Home care allows a maximum amount of freedom for the individual.

9) Home care is a personalized care. It is delivered on a one-to-one basis.

10) The patient and their family are taught to participate in their health care. They are taught how to get well and how to stay that way.

11) Home care reduces stress. Unlike most forms of health care, which can increase anxiety and stress, home care has the opposite effect.

12) Home care is the most effective form of health care. There is very high consumer satisfaction associated with care delivered in the home.

13) Home care is the most efficient from of health care. Technology has now developed to the point where almost any service that is available in a hospital can be offered at home.

14) Home care is given by special people. Home care workers are highly trained and seem to share a certain reverence for life.

15) Home care is the only way to reach some people. Home health has its roots in the early 1900's when some method was needed to provide care for the flood of immigrants who populated our major cities.

16) There is little fraud and abuse associated with home care. Other parts of the health care delivery system have been riddled with fraud and charges of poor care. There have been few, if any, major scandals related to home care.

17) Home care improves the quality of life. Home care helps not only add years to life, but life to years.

18) Home care is less expensive than other forms of care. Home care cost only one tenth as much as hospitalization and only one fourth as much as nursing home placement to deal with comparable health problems.

19) Home care extends life. The US General Accounting Office has established beyond doubt that those people receiving home care lived longer and enjoyed living.

20) Home care is the preferred form of care, even for individuals who are terminally ill. There is a growing public acceptance and demand for hospice care, which is home care for individuals who are terminally ill.

Portions Reprinted from HOMECARE Magazine, (November 1995)