People receive home healthcare for both chronic conditions, such as Congestive Heart Failure or Diabetes, or for acute medical conditions, such as after a stroke or a surgical procedure. The primary services provided to patients are intermittent skilled nursing. Depending on the unique needs of each patient, visits from other health care professionals such as home health aides, physical or occupational therapists, and a social worker are also available.
Nurses help with educating patient's on, and monitoring of, their condition.
Home Health aides provide assistance with personal cares, such as bathing or hair washing, and may also provide a limited amount of housekeeping assistance. Therapists assist patients with strengthening and with enhancing the safety and accessibility of the patient's home environment. A social worker is available to provide education on, and coordination of, other services and assistance that may meet the patient's specific needs. Hospice could be considered a very specific kind of home health care. It is a program with the goal of providing physical, emotional and spiritual care to terminally ill individuals who are no longer seeking a cure for their disease, or for whom there is no cure available.