Home care services can be categorized as skilled care or home support services. Skilled care is service prescribed by a physician and provided by a licensed professional. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses monitor medicines, help with wound or catheter care, teach the recipient or family members about special procedures, and provide other skilled services. Medical social workers provide short-term counseling and make referrals to community resources that can help recipients and their families cope with physical, emotional, and financial stresses. Nutritionists help plan special diets.
Therapists perform physical, speech, respiratory, and occupational therapies in the home.
Certified home health aides usually perform these services. Medicaid coverage varies by state. Some private long-term health insurance covers home health care, but policies must be read carefully for definitions of skilled and unskilled care. In many cases, home care is paid for entirely out of private funds. The local Area Agency on Aging and its Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, your physician, or a hospital social worker may be able to help you find a reliable home care provider.