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What Is Home Care?
Home care encompasses a wide array of health and supportive services delivered at home. These services are utilized by individuals who are disabled, chronically or terminally ill, or recovering from an illness or accident. Home care patients still require assistance or treatment, but are well enough to be cared for at home instead of an institutional setting. Caregivers provide patients with emotional support and help them adjust to getting along independently.
Who Can Benefit From Home Care Services?
Generally, home care is appropriate whenever a person prefers to stay at home but needs ongoing care that cannot easily or effectively be provided solely by family and friends. Home care enables individuals to maintain independent, non-institutionalized lives as their physical capabilities diminish. It affords those who are disabled, chronically ill, or recuperating to be cared for in their loving and secure home environments. Home care also allows for adults and children diagnosed with terminal illnesses to be cared for at home, receiving compassion and maintaining dignity at the end of life.
What Home Care Services Are Available?
Registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provide skilled services that cannot be performed safely and effectively by paraprofessional personnel. Some of these services include injections and intravenous therapy, wound care, education on disease treatment and prevention, and patient assessments. The intricacy of a patient's medical condition and required course of treatment determine whether or not nursing care is required.
Home health aides assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as getting in and out of bed, walking, bathing, toileting, and dressing. Some aides have received special training and are qualified to provide more complex services under the supervision of a nursing professional.
Homemaker and chore workers perform light household duties, such as laundry, meal preparation, general housekeeping, and shopping. Their services are directed at maintaining patient households rather than providing hands-on assistance with personal care.
Companions provide companionship and comfort to individuals who, for medical and/or safety reasons, may not be left at home alone. Some companions may assist clients with household tasks, but most are limited to providing sitter-type services.
How Do I Select A Home Care Provider?
Before starting a search, it is important to determine the level and types of services you need. Other important factors to consider include quality of care, availability of needed services, expertise of personnel, and insurance coverage. Many providers are commonly listed in the yellow pages under “Home Care” or “Nurses.”
Medicare and Medicaid generally require the services to be provided by a certified home health agency, or CHHA. For other third party insurers and self-pay options, a licensed home care services agency, or LHCSA, may be more appropriate and cost effective.
The following is a checklist of questions to ask home care providers and other individuals, such as your physician, nurse, or hospital personnel, who may know about the provider's track record. Their insight will help you determine which provider is best for you or your loved one:
· Is the provider licensed?
· What procedures does the provider have in place to handle emergencies?
· Are the provider’s caregivers and care coordinators available 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
· Does the provider supply literature explaining its services, eligibility requirements, fees, and funding sources?
· How does the provider select and train its employees?
· What types of ongoing education is provided for the employees?
· Are criminal background checks performed on all employees?
· Does the provider protect its workers with written personnel policies, benefits packages, and malpractice insurance?
· How does the provider include the patient and family members in developing the plan of care and making care plan changes?
· Does the provider comply with the newly enacted HIPAA regulations to ensure patient privacy and confidentiality?
Is OMEGA Licensed?
OMEGA is licensed as a home care services agency by the New York State Department of Health.
Is OMEGA Accredited?
OMEGA is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), a designation awarded only to health care providers meeting the highest standards for quality health care.
When Are OMEGA Services Available?
OMEGA provides services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Supervisors and Care Coordinators are also on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. OMEGA maintains business office hours Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Does OMEGA Provide Educational Materials For Patients?
OMEGA furnishes each patient with a detailed patient handbook including the "Patient Bill of Rights" that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the providers, patients, and caregivers alike. Literature and educational materials are also distributed, explaining the services and other helpful information about OMEGA.
How Does OMEGA Recruit, Screen, Hire, and Train Its Employees?
OMEGA is continually recruiting employees through advertisements, referral, and word of mouth. OMEGA performs criminal background checks and drug screening on all employees prior to hiring. In addition, candidates are required to provide references, which are verified at the time of application for employment. All aides receive ongoing training to ensure the highest level of competency.
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