Home Health Care

Let's face it; everyone has to deal with health care at some point in their lives. No matter how healthy of a lifestyle you tend to live, chances are you'll require this when you grow old. There are a variety of different ways to go about obtaining this, many people take the route of going into a nursing home. Instead, however, home health care can be very effective. The following are just a few of the most prominent benefits of home health care, all of which make a case for taking this route rather than settling on a nursing home.

For one, this provides those who receive it with the dignity that they deserve. Going into a nursing home can be a shock to a person's system, and can dramatically affect their dignity in negative ways. Home health care, on the other hand, provides these individuals with the respect that they deserve.

This is very effective at preventing or delaying the need for hospital care. For example, those that do not receive this type often end up in the hospital earlier than necessary because no preventative measures are taken. Home health care is a very good solution to this.

Another reason to consider is that it offers the individual the most amount of comfort and freedom that they can experience in their current state. The same cannot be said for those who end up in nursing homes, which feature rigid schedules and programs that must be followed. As a result, it provides for the most relaxing environment possible for a person to grow old in.

In order for one to grow old comfortably, it's important for the program to be tailored to their individual needs and preferences. Unfortunately, this is not common when people end up in nursing homes. With this, however, this can be very easily attainable and is very much worth working towards.

While some people think they can grow old in their homes on their own, the fact remains that professionally supervised services are of the utmost importance. Home health care provides these types of services, and should not be underestimated. Rather than going into a nursing home, one should consider this as the better alternative.

When people grow old, it's not uncommon for families to get torn apart over the stress factors that sometimes come about. This can help to alleviate this stress, and make things easier and more comfortable for everyone involved.

As you can see, there are many benefits to home health care. This is without a doubt the best way to age in a graceful, respectful manner.

Are you aware of the fact that elderly individuals prefer to stay at home than to be placed in nursing home or long-term care centers? Are you aware of the benefits of home health care? To know more about it, read the article below.

Senior citizens do not like to be placed in nursing homes or assisted living facilities because they do not like to loss their independence and they like to enjoy the comfort of their own homes.

Majority of them want to stay in their own houses, but many of them are placed in geriatrics homes when it is not really needed.

Advantages of home health care:

* It is more suitable than nursing homes or assisted living facilities because it promotes their independence and their empowerment.

* It promotes stable of mind, mental health and boosts sense of being control of oneself.

* They feel less vulnerable because friends and family are near and just around.

* If you hire caregivers, your loved ones can establish strong bond of companionship with them.

* Caregivers can help them achieve normal routine while improving their quality of life.

* They can accompany your parents to visit their friends and relatives who also receive the same type home care.

As your parents or grandparents grew older, it can be challenging for you on how to take care of them better. Despite the different and sensitive needs they have, they need all the love, understanding, companionship, support and care from family members, thus home care is the best option to consider.

Tips on how to provide quality home health care for your elderly loved ones:

* Assess their needs first. List their needs and ways on how to meet them. If they have dementia or Alzheimer's disease, it is best that you consult your physician first before you decide to take them home.

* Sit down and have a talk with other members of the family regarding your decision to take care of your elderly loved one at home. Since it can be a difficult decision for the family, it is best that you have an open line of communication to know each other's concerns.

* If you and other members of the family are busy, you can hire a caregiver to look after your parents at home. It is much better than placing them in nursing homes because you can monitor their health and status easily. Be sure to choose credible, experienced and responsible caregiver. Try to ask friends, relatives and colleagues for referrals or surf the Internet to read reviews of satisfied customers.

* Having caregiver at home to look after your parents is advantageous because of several reasons like:

- They can provide company and support.

- They can keep an eye of safety hazards at home.

- They can help maintain the cleanliness of your home.

- They can prepare nutritious and appetizing meals for your parents.

- They can monitor and give medicines at prescribed time.

- They can bring your parents to the park, to visit friends or to the doctor for regular monitoring and check ups.

- They can assist in bathing and grooming of your elderly loved ones.

* Lastly, you have the chance to spend quality time with your parents or grandparents.

With the advantages of elderly home health care mentioned above, there is no doubt that home health care is the best option available.

Caregivers are expected to be strong and healthy, but what happens if the caregiver gets sick? As the operator of a home care agency, I could always tell when a caregiver who was calling on the phone to order service was at a breaking point. Their voices were very stressed and they were almost in a panic. Often, as they described their situation, you could hear the tears welling up inside of them. These were individuals who have taken on a tremendous load and were in need of support. Unfortunately, they waited too long and the stress of being a caregiver had already taken its toll, but it does not have to be that way.

If you are the primary caregiver of older parents or an ailing spouse, you need to be very careful not to let the situation overwhelm you. While this sounds easier said than done, there are steps you can take to prevent burnout. Here are a few points that can help.

1. Look for help. Allow others to help and don't feel that you have to be the one to do everything. There are numerous ways to get help for your loved one depending on your needs, location and financial situation. Here are a few:
   1. Contact the Office on Aging and ask about respite programs. Usually, most counties have programs that will pay for a limited number of hours of home care services, free of charge. This program is designed to give you a break and allow you to get out of the house.
   2. If you qualify for Medicaid, there may be programs available which would pay for either home care or adult day care services.
   3. If the person has a serious illness, consider hiring hospice. You do not have to wait until the illness is at the end stages to get help.
   4. Ask relatives or close friends to help out.
   
   
2. Get some exercise. Exercise can help you reduces stress, keep your body strong, strengthen your immune system and just make you feel good. Some of the best exercises are walking or biking. These are easy to do, gets your heart rate into the aerobic zone, burns calories and gives you a chance to clear your head. Some excellent mind/body exercises include yoga, tai chi and Qi gong. Make time to exercise and you will reap the rewards.
3. Eat well. Like exercise, eating a well balanced diet helps you feel good, helps avoid being sick and gives you the energy you need to be a caregiver.
4. Learn relaxation techniques. Deep breathing, meditation and some of the mind/body exercise mentioned above can be tremendously helpful. An easy breathing technique is to inhale through your nose four a count of four, filling your belly with air, not your chest. Hold your breath for a count of seven and then exhale through your mouth for a count of eight. Do a few repetitions at a time. This can really help calm the nerves when practiced regularly.
5. Get an adequate amount of sleep. The fastest way to get run down is never getting enough sleep. If you find you are caring for your loved one at night, try to hire a person for overnights if this is possible. If you have siblings, ask them to chip in financially if they are not able to share some of the actual hands on care.

While it can be very difficult to do many of the suggestions listed above, you must understand that if you get run down and sick, the problem is greatly magnified. You must be firm in demanding time to care for yourself and most importantly, you must not feel guilty. You are doing a great and honorable thing by being a caregiver, but it must not completely take over your life.

If you do not know where to turn, consider hiring a professional geriatric care manager. While they can be a bit costly, it is often money well spent as their years of experience are focused on helping seniors and their families when in need.

Lastly, an excellent resource for finding senior related business is a website called CareGrade, found at http://www.caregrade.com. Here you will find a listing of local services and be able to read reviews written by professional geriatric care managers.

There may come a time where you, your parents, or another elderly relative living in the low country of South Carolina, may need the services of a local home health care agency. Nobody wants to become injured or sick, but life happens, and when it does, know that there are great institutions offering home health care in Charleston.

Before approaching the various agencies providing home health care in Charleston, make a list of questions. When talking to the various representatives write down the answers, so you can compare them afterwards. The information you gathered during these conversations will then help you to make an informed decision.

1. What kind of services do you offer? Do they include: bathing and grooming, dressing, light housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, medication reminders, as well as eating and feeding assistance, and incontinence management?
2. Do the caregivers working in home health care in Charleston also take care of pets?
3. Is emotional support available? The loss of their independence can be traumatic for some patients, as well as dealing with their health issues.
4. Do you provide both short and long term assistance? You need to make sure that short term commitments can be extended in case a recovery is not going as smoothly as predicted.
5. Are the caregivers engaged in home health care in Charleston supervised by registered nurses? Do they receive ongoing in-house training?
6. Is professional support staff available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week?
7. Will supervisors and registered nurses always be accessible to answer my questions? Although you may be satisfied with the initial information you received, other concerns may pop up later on. If that happens, you want them answered by professionals you can trust.

Many people don't think about it until it's too late, but home health care is something that you should consider before hospitals or nursing homes become your only option. Realistically, wouldn't you want your children to keep you around after you are unable to take care of yourself, in the comfort of your own home?

If you have not run across the idea of home health care yet in your travels, it combines the best of many worlds of care. The same quality of care a patient would get in a hospital is transferred to a private residence, where the patient is the sole focus of a trained professional on hand.

The person will be trained in many basic and advanced parts of the treatment process, including having knowledge of nutrition, IV's, patient and caregiver processes, occupational and dietary therapy, and a consistent knowledge of anything medically related that specific person needs to be health and safe in the home environment.

If medical agencies are smart, they always have an arm of their service that includes the ability of their staff to go on home health care assignments. This is because is can be beneficial to all parties involved, as the correct utilization of resources saves everyone time and money, and people use that to their advantage.

If you are worried about certain conditions for your parent, here are some things that home health care deals with as well - helping them eat and drink properly, basic cooking and cleaning, checking temperature and breathing, if they need assistance getting into and out of bed, if they need a helping hand with things like bathing or using the bathroom.

One of the first things that you should discuss is the plan of care. That is a document that details all of the daily, short term, and long term aspects of the care, from who is going to take care of what, to the types of medical equipment that needs to be on hand, to deciding which treatments are going to take how long and when results should be seen.

Staff should always be determined to improve their service as well. If you have noticed that your home health care provided has become lazy or does not take as much interest in the client as they should, you should immediately start shopping around for a better place to hire from. Improvement is always the key.

It's not an easy decision sending a loved one to a hospital or nursing home, so make the right choice and instead have the hospital come to you. The service can be excellent, and you'll feel more connected instead of guilty as time goes by and your parents are still happy.

Nurse is one of the noble professions that most of the people need to have in terms of medical assistance and health care. They are being looked up with high respect and appreciation by different race of people with different culture and beliefs.

Nurses can do different tasks according to their trainings and skills. Most of their jobs usually differ according to their practice area and work place. Most of the place and major areas that they usually work on are hospitals, government health centers, nursing home, day care center, home health care center. Home health care center, as it name implies, these nurses are home based nurses that provide health care to private individuals on their homes. They provide health care according to the need of the patient on their home. They do have specialization according to their degrees and trainings.

Nurses who work at private homes do take different patients like those who suffer from chronic illnesses, physical and mental illness, recovering from accidents, terminal injuries like those who need special care due to acquired illness on childbirth. Home care services are being provided for a short time only that is depends on the service approved by the attending physician. Home care nurses are usually associated with private organization and hospital or some do work independently. One of the most special jobs of a home care nurses is their ability to go along with the family members and give them information about the condition of the patient and instruct them what to do in case of emergency.

Once your loved one gets to the point where medical treatment is no longer effective, you move into palliative care mode. That's when Hospice takes over the daily routine of care. this article will inform you of just what Hospice covers.

Terminal patients come in many forms. Elderly patients are sometimes referred to Hospice at the end of their lives to help with the transition to death. Many of these patients have already been in some form of home health and are just moved to being cared for by Hospice. Other reasons for Hospice are terminal illness and injury. Many cancer patients are in Hospice care for the final stages of life.

Hospice care is a lifesaver for most families because they can't afford the care costs associated with long illness. Home health is expensive and hospital stays are even worse. Hospice provides medical equipment such as beds, walkers, wheel chairs, and ventilators. These costs alone can overwhelm a family under any circumstances. Add in the impending death of a loved one and it becomes unmanageable. Also, many times family members will take leaves of absence from work in the time that their spouse or parent is under Hospice care. With no work, the free medical equipment is a gift from the heavens. Medications and doctor visits are also free once a person qualifies for Hospice.

Hospice offers much more than just medical care. They have grief counselors and clergy on call for families of ill patients. Their goal is to counsel everyone involved to make the situation as painless as possible. Often you will get visits at home from your nurse and your counselor. The counselors speak with the entire family, together and individually. This is a great way to get everything out in the open with each other and express your fears.

Hospice has different stages of care. Patients progress through these stages at different speeds. Most Hospice centers use a color coded system for identifying teams. Others use numbers, like 1-4, to depict the level of care needed. In the beginning, lower stages require minimal care and visits. They set you up with your equipment and give you the information you will need. As you progress through the program you get more in depth care. Visits increase and so do phone calls. They take it upon themselves to keep a constant line of communication with you. Toward the end your home health provider may transfer some of their low level cases to another caregiver.

Several forces are coming together which will expand the home health care industry in Connecticut.

Governor Malloy is expanding the MFP ( Money Follows the Person) program. This is a federal reform program that aims to reduce the number of patients on Medicaid in expensive institutional healthcare settings. It focuses on moving people out of long-term care facilities and placing them back into their homes where most elderly people prefer to reside. The Connecticut legislature has approved new regulations for the home health care industry that will allow nurses to delegate medication administration to home health aides that are working with patients in their homes. All of these changes are designed to benefit the elderly and to improve quality of life and expand the elderly population that can reside at home with assistance. These are all positive things for health challenged individuals, providing the proper community support is available. This was not the case when the state decided that mental health patients belonged in the community and not in chronic care facilities. Community support was grossly inadequate in the 1980s when the state deinstitutionalized patients from psychiatric hospitals, producing disastrous results for many communities and individuals. Hopefully this most recent plan to transition people into the community has taken into account the need for expanded home health care services.

A second shift in the state's public health policy that has started to effect the home health care industry is in the area of informed risk. Informed risk is basically a policy stating that a person who may not be deemed safe to stay at home is allowed to remain at home as long as patient and family acknowledge that the patient is at greater risk of injury at home as opposed to a facility. It is an honoring of the patient's wishes as opposed to what the agency may feel is the best plan of care for the individual. Up until recently if a person was deemed unsafe in their home environment the home care agency would not support the person remaining at home. In other words they would refuse to provide services. Now the state is promoting keeping people at risk in their homes, providing that they are mentally sound, and they have acknowledged the fact that they are assuming greater risk by staying at home.

Even with good agency oversight it is inevitable that these shifts regarding informed risk and allowing non nurses to give medications will lead to an increase in injuries, accidental overdoses, misuse of medications as well as negligence and/or abuse. Agency staff will need to carefully document risk assessment and delegation of duties. Careful monitoring and good case management will help minimize errors and limit abuse and neglect in this population however the home care industry is certain to have an increase in liability hence the possibility of increasing nursing malpractice claims.

With the first wave of baby boomers starting to retire, the number of senior citizens in Connecticut continues to expand. The need for experienced home health care experts will continue to grow as well.

Home Health Care Nursing Information and Overview

Home health care is allowing the patient and their family to maintain dignity and independence. According to the National Association for Home Care, there are more than 7 million individuals in the United States in need of home health care nurse services because of acute illness, long term health problems, permanent disability or terminal illness.

Home Health Care Basics

Nurses practice in a number of venues: Hospital settings, nursing homes, assisted living centers, and home health care. Home health care nursing is a growing phenomenon as more patients and their families desire to receive care in their homes. The history of home health care stems from Public Health Nursing where public health nurses made home visits to promote health education and provide treatment as part of community outreach programs. Today academic programs train nurses in home care and agencies place home health care nurses with ailing individuals and their families depending on the nurse's experience and qualifications. In many cases there is a shared relationship between the agency and the academic institution.

Many changes have taken place in the area of home health care. These include Medicare and Medicaid, and Long Term Care insurance reimbursement and documentation. It is important for the nurse and nursing agency to be aware of the many factors involved for these rules and regulations resulting from these organizations. Population and demographic changes are taking place as well. Baby boomers approaching retirement and will present new challenges for the home health care industry. Technology and medical care in hospitals has lead to shorter inpatient stay and more at-home rehabilitation. Increases in medical outpatient procedures are also taking place with follow-up home care. This has resulted in the decrease of mortality rate from these technologies and medical care has lead to increases in morbidity and chronic illness that makes the need for home health care nursing a greater priority.

Home Health Care Nurse Job Description

Through an array of skills and experience, home health care nurses specialize in a wide range of treatments; emotional support, education of patients who are recovering from illnesses and injury for young children and adults, to women who have experienced recent childbirth, to the elderly who need palliative care for chronic illness.

A practicing nurse must have the skills to provide care in a unique setting such as someone's home. The nurse is working with the patient and the family and must understand the communication skills for such dynamics. Rapport is evident in all nursing positions, but working in a patient's own living space needs a different level of skill and understanding. There is autonomous decision making as the nurse is no longer working as a team with other nurses in a structured environment, but is now as a member of the "family" team. The host family has cultural values that are important and are different for every patient and must be treated with extreme sensitivity. Other skills include critical thinking, coordination, assessment, communication, and documentation.

Home health care nurses also specialize in the care of children with disabilities that requires additional skills such as patience and understanding of the needs of the family. Children are living with disabilities today that would have resulted in mortality just twenty years ago. Genetic disorders, congenital physical impairments, and injury are just a few. Many families are familiar with managing the needs of the child, but still need expert care that only a home health care nurse can provide. It is important that a home health care nurse is aware of the expertise of the family about the child's condition for proper care of the child. There are many complexities involved, but most important, a positive attitude and positive reinforcement is of utmost importance for the development of the child.

Medication coordination between the home health care nurse, doctor, and pharmacist, ensures proper management of the exact science behind giving the patient the correct dose, time of administration, and combinations. Home health care nurses should be familiar with pharmacology and taught in training about different medications used by patients in the clinical setting.

Many advanced practicing nurses are familiar with medication regiments. They have completed graduate level programs. Home health care agencies believe that a nurse should have at least one year of clinical experience before entering home health care. Advanced practicing nurses can expedite that training by helping new nurses understand the home health care market and teaching.

Employment and Salary

According to the United States Department of Labor, there were 2.4 million nurses in America, the largest healthcare occupation, yet many academic and hospital organizations believe there is a gross shortage in nursing staff. The shortage of nurses was 6% in 2000 and is expected to be 10% in 2010. The average salary for hospital nursing is $53,450 with 3 out of 5 nursing jobs are in the hospital. For home health care, the salary is $49,000. For nursing care facilities, they were the lowest at $48,200.

Training and continuing education

Most home health care nurses gain their education through accredited nursing schools throughout the country with an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN), or a master's degree in nursing (MSN). According to the United States Department of Labor, in 2004 there were 674 BSN nursing programs, 846 ADN programs. Also, in 2004, there were 417 master's degree programs, 93 doctoral programs, and 46 joint BSN-doctoral programs. The associate degree program takes 2 to 3 years to complete, while bachelors degrees take 4 years to complete. Nurses can also earn specialized professional certificates online in Geriatric Care or Life Care Planning.

In addition, for those nurses who choose to pursue advancement into administrative positions or research, consulting, and teaching, a bachelor's degree is often essential. A bachelor's degree is also important for becoming a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners (U.S. Department of Labor, 2004).

All home health care nurses have supervised clinical experience during their training, but as stated earlier advanced practicing nurses hold master's degrees and unlike bachelor and associate degrees, they have a minimum of two years of post clinical experience. Course work includes anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, and behavioral sciences and liberal arts. Many of these programs have training in nursing homes, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics. (U.S. Dep. of Labor, 2004).

Whether a nurse is training in a hospital, nursing facility, or home care, continuing education is necessary. Health care is changing rapidly and staying abreast with the latest developments enhances patient care and health procedures. Universities, continuing education programs, and internet sites, all offer continuing education. One such organization that provides continuing education is the American Nurses Association (ANA) or through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Conclusion

There are many rewards to becoming a home health care nurse. Some rewards include the relationship with a patient and their family, autonomy, independence, and engaging in critical thinking. The 21st Century brings with it many opportunities and challenges. We must meet these challenges head on - there is an aging baby boomer population, a growing morbidity factor due to increased medical technology and patient care, and the growing shortage in nursing care.

Becoming a home health care nurse today is exciting and an opportunity to make a difference one life at a time. With clinical experience and proper education, a home health care nurse will lead the future of medical care.

Recovering from an illness or injury can be a stressful time for both the patient and the patient's family. That stress is compounded when chronic illness or disability is involved. Research has consistently shown that, when at all possible, recovering at home is the best option for the patient's physical and mental health. Unfortunately, when the patient is elderly or too injured or ill to care for themselves, recovering at home is sometimes not an option.

Finding friends or family members to assist with daily tasks is not always feasible. Even when family members are in a position to assist, the burden placed on them often puts a strain on their other family relationships, as well as their career and personal life. The alternative to home recovery-having their loved one leave their home to life in a medical facility or nursing home-is often a last and regretful resort.

Luckily, there is another way for patients to remain in their beloved homes while receiving quality health care assistance: Home Health Care. Recent technological advance such as the internet and home infusion have made home health care available to many more patients than in the past. According to the National Association for Home Care, there are approximately 20,000 home health care providers today. While almost two-thirds of home care recipients are seniors over 65, home health care can assist anyone who requires some assistance while recovering from an illnesses or suffering a disability.

Here are some benefits of home health care:

o Seniors can continue living in their own familiar, comfortable environment
o Dignity and independence is maintained
o Patients receive one on one attention and care from the home health caregiver
o Home health care is often less expensive than care in nursing homes / assisted living facilities
o It relieves the burden placed on adult children to provide care for their aging parents

Most people prefer receiving care in a familiar setting where they are surrounded by love, patience and understanding people. Home health care providers help strengthen and increase the patient's ability to care for themselves in their homes. They can also have a positive impact on a patient's hopes and aspirations.

With the financial situation in the US the way it is presently and the need to fix foreign affairs, health care takes a backseat. The mortgage lending situation undoubtedly, needs careful attention but what happens to health care. The situation in home health care is still shaky to say the least. Family caregivers already have to deal with plenty in terms of estate planning, navigating the Medicare and Medicaid maze, as well hold jobs in the case of many squeeze generation women.

The truth is, America as a nation is aging. The first of the baby boomer generation is turning 65 in the year 2013. With the aging of America, we need to expand the amount of home health care solutions available to seniors. This means more cash and counsel programs, expanded assisted living arrangements, more community living programs, and adult day care. Home health agencies are not for everyone. True, it is a much more financially viable solution than nursing homes, which can cost up to 70 thousand dollars a year.

Everyone wants to retire and age in the comfort of their own home. Not many people want to age in nursing homes. The problem with home health agencies is the limited scope of responsibilities each assistant is allowed to attend to. Many home health care agencies have strict criteria that exclude things like bowel care and help with trach tubes, both things that are essential in family with MS or other brain-impairing diseases. The alternatives are hiring independently, hiring family, or neighbors if the situation allows it. When you consider home health care, the main considerations are financial and quality of care. Do you receive financial aid either by Medicaid or some other outside funding? Do you need professional nursing home type care? What is the extent of disability?

You don't have to make the terrible decision to send one of your loved ones to a hospital or nursing home - there is always the home health care option! Just think, you might even be able to save money by having a professional come to your home to take care of someone who has been hurt.

Home health care, in the most basic sense, is where a trained agent will come in and do all of the things that a patient would have needed at the hospital, but in the convenient setting of a home environment, where friends and family can be around as well to help things.

During a home heath care contract, personnel can do things like physical and occupational therapy, nutrition therapy, handle treatment that deals with medication or IV's, deal with things like patient and caregiver knowledge, and monitor any possible serious condition that might pop up. All of the attention will definitely be on you, the patient, instead of many at a hospital.

There are all sorts of agencies that have home health care options. You'll find companies ranging from tiny neighborhood ones to major corporate ones, and the options that you need will be clearly defined when you talk to any of them for the first time. Just don't be scared to ask questions.

The home health care staff will take care of a patients eating and drinking, check on vitals like temperature, breathing, pain levels, amount of sleep they get, heart rate, and blood pressure. In addition, they can take care of things like basic cooking and cleaning, depending on the program you've set up for them.

Always make sure that they explain to you how the plan of car works as well. It's basically just a list of all the services and equipment you need at your home, as well as schedules and time frames, and what type of results you should expect during what stage of the care the patient is in at any given time. Any adjustment in care should be indicated on this list.

The process should be under a state of constant improvement as well. Every day there will be challenges, and the challenges should be met with ideas about how to make the situation better for everyone involved. Staff should always be polite and respectful, and if they aren't, it is time to choose a new company.

Now that you have a basic understanding of how home health care works, do a little homework to find if there are local places that fit you needs, and you know that you'll be ready to make the right decision if you're ever put in the position to make a call.

Probably it is time to seek the assistance of a home health care agency if your beloved needs either medical or non medical help. Whilst you've got intentions for being the sole care provider for your loved one, this may turn out to be very hard, on the other hand, the final option is putting them in a home. Know that you are not alone with regards to this problem so you do have alternatives for your beloved, with one of them being help with a home health care agency.

A home health care agency gives numerous beneficial services to you and your family member. As you'll be able to regain things such as time for yourself as well as freedom, your beloved is going to be properly cared for so you don't need to worry. You'll have these facilities brought to you rather than having to bring your beloved from one appointment to another. If you are not sure if a home health care agency will be able to assist you as well as your loved one, here's a perception of the services many agencies offer.

First, they will offer many difference sorts of therapy remedies. Included you'll typically get respiratory, occupational and physical therapies. Through these facilities your beloved will have the ability to live as comfy as possible, enjoy life to their fullest extent, all regardless of age. Whether it is your parent, young child, spouse, and brother or sister, a home health care agency can help.

Next, they also give a selection of other services like assisting with personal needs such as bathing, eating, getting your loved one to meetings, and even just getting them away from the home. In addition to personal care services an ideal agency will also offer patients both live-in care and respite care. With such a service, you can find help for your family member whether it's for a few hours each day or all hours of a day. Health care professionals are available to help with a variety of tasks including things like laundry, keeping the patients room maintained, keeping an eye fixed on their dietary plan, and even running errands. All of these facilities will be provided by an excellent agency.

In a nutshell, no matter what you and your loved one need in order to gain back a high quality of life, home care agencies exist to help, all for an affordable price. A plan will be determined, which can then be accomplished by pros who are qualified to do so. Whether you want help while you're at work, or want to have a family trip, you can get this freedom again. An agency will not only give you freedom, but it can assist with your loved one gaining back their self-esteem, all while being relaxed. These provided services can help every family member, regardless of the patients needs.

Home health care encompasses many different types of health care services which are provided in the patient's home. This can include visits from nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and nursing assistants. Home health care can mean a one time visit or 24 hour a day care.

The patients who receive health care from home are just as diverse. They can be the elderly who live alone or an infant who is on life support. The goal of home health care is to keep the patient in their own home while ensuring good medical care. This kind of health care reduces overall health care costs since these patients do not have to pay for hospital rooms and services.

Health care services at home may be administered by a local hospital or an independent agency. End of life health care from home is often provided by Hospice. It is important to make sure you hire credentialed home healthcare workers when you are looking for home health care. Healthcare practitioners who provide this service must be fully licensed just like their counterparts who work in hospitals or nursing homes.

This particular service is usually covered by insurance, at least in part, if it is ordered by a physician. Insurance companies are generally supportive of home health care because it costs them less money to cover a patient at home as opposed to covering the cost of a hospital stay.

This services may include the following:

1) A visit from a registered nurse for evaluations or to administer IV medications.
2) A visit from a respiratory therapist to maintain medical equipment.
3) A visit from a physical therapist for a session of rehabilitation exercises.
4) Around the clock care by certified nursing assistants.
5) Overnight coverage by a sitter.

Health care services at home will usually be arranged by the hospital, nursing home, or physician after a hospitalization and before the patient is sent home. Insurance arrangements will be made before hand and the approved number of visits and type of care will be determined. If the patient does not need much hands-on care, but requires supervision, a sitter may be indicated. If the patient needs to be fed, bathed, or given medications, a nursing assistant may be sent for part of the day. Home health care workers have specific tasks which they are and are not allowed to do according to their license.

What exactly is home health care and how do you enter this booming market? As indicated by its name, home health care is simply health care provided for those that require assistance in their home. It shouldn't be confuse from basic home care, which does not account for the trained medical care that is provided.

In most cases, simple home care involves meeting the day to day needs of your loved one, like shopping, cleaning and errand running, and is mostly provided by friends or family. On occasion a companion is hired to perform these tasks. In contrast, home health care is usually provided by a trained professional. This may be a nurse, a therapist, or a home health aide.

To become a home health care professional, you will be required to receive some type of training. The training focus will usually center on home safety in regards to the patient. You will also receive training on how to deliver professional personal care, and how to properly use the equipment needed to assist those requiring home health care services.

The training required for the various positions can vary from on the job training to more advanced training that requires certification or a degree. The largest organization that offers training for home health care certification is the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. They offer various certification programs.

If you are in a current management position, you may want to become certified as a Home Care and Hospice Executive. If you want to receive a certification in the hands on training area, you can apply for the Home Care Aide National Certification program. No matter which certification you seek, you will need to re-certify every four years.

For the home care aides, the certification process will involve three elements that you must pass. You must pass the Training portion, the Skills Demonstration, and the Written Examination. The training portion requires a curriculum of 75 hours. This training will give you the medical skills to become fully certified.

The Skills Demonstration portion involves demonstrating competency in seventeen various skills. Demonstration of this competency comes from observation and documentation. The Written Examination is administered by the Home Care University. Obtaining your certification will ensure patients and clients that you are providing them with a higher standard of home care aide.

Whether you desire to enter this field in a management position, or as a hands-on care provider, the home health care industry has an increased need for professionals in this field. Because of our aging population, the need is expected to continue to rise through the next ten years or so. Obtaining your certification in this area will give you a leg up on your competition.

When people think of home health care, they mainly consider the needs of the elderly or the disabled. However, there is a federal program available in every state that provides in home care to children with disabilities as well as those who are at high risk for developing disabilities or falling behind their peers developmentally and socially.

Early Intervention can provide speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and social play therapy for any children who are shown to be lagging on developmental test between the ages of 4 months and 3 years old. Often doctors will refer their young patients to Early Intervention if they have any concerns, but sometimes a parent who is concerned and doesn't feel like he or she is being taken seriously will refer themselves.

Once an infant or toddler has been screened for Early Intervention and is found to be eligible, the program will begin sending the child's therapists to the house on a regular basis to work on whatever skills the child is lacking or is at risk for losing. Early Intervention bills a client's insurance company just as any other home health care company would do. This includes both private insurance and Medicaid.

This form of home health care is wonderful for parents who are already stretched thin between work, other children, and now a child who has special needs. By coming to the home, instead of requiring that the children are brought to a central office, children are more likely to be seen on a regular basis. It also gives the in home health therapists to get an idea of how a child lives from day to day so that he or she can point out ways for the child's parents to improve on areas when the therapists are not in the home.

In addition to that, many children are much more comfortable in their own homes and tend to actually do better in therapy when the home care physical, speech, or occupational therapist come to work with the child. Having their own toys to play with in familiar surroundings can ease that 'warm up' period that would normally happen when being taken to a new office. Also, when a parent sees an exercise done on their own couch or floor, it can help reinforce how easy it is for them to continue to work with their child between therapist visits.

When a child turns three years old, the in home health care of the Early Intervention program stops. At this time, children who continue to need therapy are transitioned to preschool so that they can receive the therapies they need. The state is required to provide therapy through the school system for any child who needs it from the age three, until they are adults.

After a major surgery or serious injury, many elderly people are moved by their families into an assisted living or nursing home. Most people make this choice because it decreases the stress on support people and makes sure the proper care is being provided. Unfortunately, recovering in a new and often sterile environment can do more harm than good for a person recovering from a temporary or chronic illness.

Home health care makes it possible for an elderly person to recover in the comfort of their own home while still receiving the medical attention and aid required for a full recovery. Instead of taking the patient to the doctors, in-home care brings the doctors, nurses and assistants required to the patient's own home. Who wouldn't want to recover in familiar, comfortable and personal surroundings?

Did you know that studies have shown living at home is often the best choice for anyone living with a chronic illness or disability? It has been proven that a person maintains better physical and mental health when they are allowed to recover in their own homes. In-home care makes this possible for those who live alone and are unable to care for themselves.

One of the reasons in-home care helps recovery is that it provides a patient with the independence and self-dignity that is inherently stripped when they are checked into a home. Few cultures send their elders into nursing homes or similar structures when they are no longer able to care for themselves.

The men and women who just a few decades ago were the primary demographic are quickly forgotten when it comes to taking care of them in their old age. While nursing home improvement is evident over recent years, home health care is still preferable whenever possible.

Having a loved one needing constant care can be draining and stressful and often causes explosive arguments among family members. Few families have the resources and time to take on caring for someone full time. This is another way home health care is beneficial. Because the help comes straight to the patient's house, they are more able to customize the recovery schedule to meet everyone's needs.

Another benefit of home health care is that is comes with great flexibility. For instance, companion care helps keep patients from getting lonely during recovery and helps them get of the house to see friends. Other types of assistance available include running errands, putting on makeup, measuring out medication, housekeeping and maintaining personal hygiene. Specialized care is also offered for Alzheimer's, dementia and other specific illnesses.

Rather than take away the freedoms and dignity of an elderly person in chronic or temporary ill health, in-home care allows them to be in the most comfortable place possible while they are under the weather. Sleeping in your own bed, cooking in your own kitchen, sitting in your own living room, bathing in your own bathroom - all these comfortingly familiar places will help keep your loved one happy and healthy during their illness.

When you are dealing with a home health care or home care agency, it is very important that you ask the right questions so that you can accurately determine whether or not they are the right company for you and your home health care needs.

1. How many years has the agency been in business?

2. Does the agency require criminal record background checks, child abuse background checks and communicable disease screens for its employees?

3. Is the agency a state-licensed home health agency?

4. Is there a written plan of care that the consumer, the family and family doctor participate in developing?

5. Is all care provided documented, defining the specific tasks to be carried out by the agency employee?

6. What are the agency's fees for a nurse, aide or companion?

7. Will the agency keep the family updated on the consumer's progress?

8. Does the agency furnish written statements explaining all costs?

9. Will the nurse, aide or companion always be the same person?

10. What happens if the scheduled employee calls off?

11. Are employees available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays?

12. Can the agency provide a list of references?

13. How do I communicate with the nurses, aides, companions, and/or agency after normal business hours?

14. What are some of the things that I can do to help my loved one deal with the adjustment of being cared for at home or having a home health care agency, companion, or aid help with their care.

It can be extremely overwhelming to have a family member that requires constant care. A lot of us simply don't have the time or the facilities to be on-hand at all times even though we might want to. You may experience feelings of guilt that you can't do all that your family member needs and can't be with them all the time. However, you are not alone. Today, millions of adults across the word are finding themselves in a position where they are juggling taking care of older relatives or parents and their own lives and career. Many people struggle so you shouldn't feel ashamed or guilty about your inability to do everything.

It can be hard to get the balance right between doing all you can for your elderly relative and looking after your own needs and this is why many people turn to home health care to help lighten the load. Home health care is a great way to ensure that you get the respite you need while making sure that your relative or parent is still looked after. In many cases, home health care is a necessity for families as it allows the career to get enough rest to ensure that they will be able to look after the elderly relative properly in the future.

There are many benefits involved in hiring home health care. The main advantage is that the person in question will be receiving the very best care possible. These people are trained medical staff and now how to look after your relative or parent properly. They will have years of experience and a wealth of expertise in dealing with emergency health situations so you really can trust them.

As well as providing essential medical care, home health care professionals will give the social interaction that your loved one really craves. No-one likes to be left on their own for long periods of time, and as much as they will love talking to you, they will also really enjoy interacting with other people. For some, home health care is their only connection to the world and without they feel lost.

The chances are you won't always be available to help your loved one with their meals. If you worry that they aren't eating nutritiously, that they aren't eating at all or that they are skipping their medication then home health care could help. A member of staff can help your loved one with meal times and ensure that take their medication at the right times throughout the day.

Home health care workers can also help with any transport issues you may be having with your loved one. If you can't get to them to take them to the doctors or any other appointment then they can do this for you and make sure that they get their safely.

There are so many more benefits to hiring home health care but the main one being that some of the pressure is taken off you and you can get back on track with your own life and responsibilities. Home health care really is a practical alternative to attempting to take on everything yourself. Home health care really can be a godsend for those people who don't need continuous nursing help but who want to be cared for in the comfort of their own home. Most people feel most comfortable at home as it is the place where their family and friends can come and visit them and sometimes familiar surroundings can help aid recovery time. Home health care services vary depending on the personal needs of the person needing the care. For some, they just need some companion care whilst other suffer from more serious illnesses and require more complex medical monitoring.

Home health care businesses are becoming more popular these days and may offer a range of services. They are usually relied on by the elderly, those who have disorders which limit their movements and require constant medical attention, or those who are recuperating from an illness or from surgery. Their services include proper health management, meal planning and preparation and may even include light chores such as keeping the house clean and running some errands. Home health care businesses are quite easy to start cost-wise since they only require minimal start-up costs and may even be started from the house, which obliterates having to rent your own space.

Although it helps if the prospective business operator has a background in health care, home health care business operators are not required to be trained formally in areas of health care. There are countless operations manuals and books available which operators may use to gain information about the business. They can also opt to attend intensive training programs where they will experience the business directly. These training programs also offer support after the business has started.

Home health care services usually offer non-medical home care service. These providers cater mainly to the elderly and the disabled so they can remain safe and secure in their homes. These services are focused on personal care and cover daily living activities such as companionship, supervision, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and transportation.

The nature of home health care businesses and the services that they offer can be done by anyone. However, a lot of caregivers in the home health care business preferred by business operators are retired nurses and nurse assistants. They know a lot about quality health care, yet no longer actively practice in a doctor's office or hospital. Also, the demands of providing home health care are much lighter than those in hospitals and clinics. They do not follow strict schedules, and as such, enable retired nurses and nurse assistants to pursue their other interests while still earning money upon retirement.

It is no surprise to any one by now that getting older is a very difficult process of life. It involves losing certain abilities you once took for granted and the ability to perform or act in a task or activity you always loved. However, the only thing worse than having to sacrifice what you once loved, is having to do it by yourself. For that reason there are resources such as home health care that can help provide you with the care that you need, the friendship that is vital for aging, and also the independence you will not want to give up. After all, that is what a life is all about, a quest for independence, and home health care providers want to make sure you continue on that quest, but that you are healthy enough to do so.

However, the upkeep of one's independence can certainly be a challenge that will only become more up in the air as the aging process really takes hold.

For that reason, a home health care provider that you elect to look after you needs to be able to truly provide for you in ways that will help you look toward your future.

By doing this, you stand better odds at living a more fulfilled life and a more exciting life that is not filled with regrets of what you are no longer able to do. That said, your provider can, and ought to be, someone who has the ability to give you physical therapy treatments that will improve the movement of your overall body.

They should be someone who can give you occupational therapy treatments that will improve the movement of specific points on your body such as fingers, hands, and other specified joints.

They should be someone who can give you speech therapy so that your expressions remain clear. And lastly, they should be someone who can offer you total daily services for when you need, such as helping you get to the bathroom, or tidying your house, or even preparing a meal for you once in a while. That way, you do not have to devote whole days to only one or two tasks, but are free to go aggressively after the same bidding you prefer.

After all, there is no need to hurry back into doing everything you would have in your old routine.

Finally, if you are in a position in your life where you are ready to get a home health care professional, be alert that you are not hiring someone that is too far out of your price range. While it is important to pay for the best, it is also important you do not add any financial burden to the load you are already dealing with. And, truly, these home health care professionals can be quite affordable as long as you get to know your options. Once you think you have found someone, too, make sure you get them right away. These professionals are not a dime a dozen, but the people going through the aging process certainly are.

The Business- Most buyers have specific lines of business that constitute their core business and certain lines of business that they may want to grow into. In homecare, examples of this are skilled intermittent care, homemaker/attendant care, hospice, DME & IV infusion. Some buyers want to concentrate in particular areas such as the Medicare certified skilled intermittent space while others are trying to diversify into areas such as hospice or homemaker/attendant care. There are also buyers that have a narrow payer focus such as Medicare while others prefer to have a wide variety of payers. Some companies have grown to substantial size based on participation in State Medicaid Waiver programs. Knowing what space you are in and your payer characteristics will most likely determine the type of buyer and possibly the specific buyers for your business.

Location - As companies expand, they have a good idea of where they want to expand geographically. If you, as a seller, can identify which buyers want to enter or expand into your geographical market, you can make yourself more attractive to those potential buyers. Examples of this are Certificate of Need (CON) states and large urban areas. Agencies in CON states where starting up an agency is relatively difficult sometimes garner higher valuations and can be sold relatively quickly as buyers have limited options of growing within that geographical area. Another example of company's expansion into different geographic markets is the acquisition of Dyna Care as well as Patient Care's operations in Chicago by Amedisys which, in a few months made Amedisys one of the largest home health agencies in the Chicago metropolitan area where they had no presence previously. The more compelling the reasons your agency is attractive to buyers; the easier it will be to sell at a good price.

Referral Sources - Some buyers look for diversified referral sources while some prefer large referral sources such as hospitals. In general diversified physician referral sources are more attractive to buyers rather than a few physicians providing the majority of an agency's referrals. Preferred provider relationships with large institutions such as hospitals or even acquisition of hospital base agencies are attractive to larger buyers if they can be assured that they can retain the future business. Avoid large medical director fees as this often can make potential buyers uncomfortable.

People - Ultimately, healthcare is a service business and service businesses are only as good as the people in them. In this era of extreme shortage of field nurses and therapists, a company with a stable workforce of good clinicians is invaluable. Knowledgeable and capable clinical managers as well as tenured sales and marketing staff can add dramatically to the value of your company. Company valuations are enhanced through better quality and service, which will lead to better profitability and increased selling price if you have motivated staff with good leadership & marketing skills.

Systems - Sellers systems are often the reason some companies have better operational and financial results. Companies with good systems tend to be easier to sell, as information is readily available. Financial information, quality of care data and much of the operational data is easily accessible. Companies with good systems tend to be the easiest companies to sell with the best valuations as there seems to be a direct correlation between organization, quality & profitability.

As you can see, homecare companies are not that different from other service companies. Good strategy, good people and good systems tend to produce better results. If you want to make the most out of the agency that you have built, concentrate on the basics. The use of professional consultants, although sometimes expensive, can ultimately pay in the long run if they help you become the company that everybody wants.

Part of the concern that many people have when it comes to allowing a home health care agency to take care of their elderly relatives is how they will pay for it. Some people are much better equipped to handle their later years because they saved money or have some kind of a pension program that will allow them to pay for their own health care. However, others have to rely on income from family members or government agencies. This is why it's important to choose a home health care agency that can help you navigate the tricky waters of budgeting for elderly care.

The first important factor to take into consideration is speaking with the home health care agency to see if they can offer any support or advice about whether Medicare or Medicaid will pay for any portion of the person's care. There are so many variables to consider such as whether or not it will be considered long or short term care. Will it be rehabilitative (physical therapy or speech therapy) or medically necessary (care that must be provided by a Registered Nurse).

If the expenses do not fit into the Medicare services, than you may have out of pocket expenses. However these costs could also be paid for by long term insurance. Most people who need additional care or assistance (that isn't covered by Medicare) choose to hire a private pay home care provider, OR they move into an assisted living or nursing home.

Remember to consider the expenses from the agency as well. You can ask questions as to the their fees including if there are any additional costs for weekends, holidays or other business hours.

Another important consideration is who pays the worker's Social Security and whether or not the company provides worker's compensation just in case there is an injury in the home while the employee is providing care. You also want to understand their billing procedure and whether or not you pay the worker or the agency directly. They should also be able to tell you if the agency bills Medicare or any other insurance directly for the covered services.

When discussing the hours the home health care worker will work in the home, make sure you know whether or not there are a minimum number of hours or days per week that are required by the agency. In essence, you want to know if there are going to be any unexpected fees or extra charges that may come up.

1) Drug Testing

The last thing you want is to have questions or doubts in your mind whether or not the company's caregiver is using before, during or after his or her shift.

A "hot" or positive drug test is signal number one that a caregiver is less than qualified for caregving. Every company should require a clean pre-employment Drug Test and require that continued employment be based on a clean Drug Test.

2) Multiple Criminal Background Checks

You can't afford to risk your loved one being the caregiver's next victim. In today's environment you must take every precaution available. Companies that only perform one Criminal Background Check may be missing critical information. Multiple Criminal Background Checks mean the company is gathering information from different reporting agencies, thereby improving their chances of catching a "hit" in an applicant's criminal past.

My staff has performed thousands of criminal background checks but I recall one particular applicant that passed the first criminal background check and passed the second. But upon running the third criminal background check, criminal violations were found. If I had only run 1 criminal background checks, like most companies, I would have completely missed this person's criminal history.

3) Poor Employment History

Work history is one of the surest ways a company has of predicting future work performance. Poor Employment History is a solid indicator of a less than desirable caregiver. If the caregiver your company wants to send doesn't have AT LEAST one year of continuous employment at any of his or her past jobs, you may want to consider changing companies. Not requiring a solid work history means your loved one may be on the ever turning wheel of different, poorly qualified, caregivers.

With fewer "good" applicants available in today's job market, it is all too easy for many companies to hire "warm bodies" to fill the jobs.

One last item - there should also be NO bad or negative references from any of the caregivers past employers or personal references. Make sure your company can provide you with your caregivers work history AND references.

4) Negative Attitude

It is every company's duty to ferret out any negative trait of an applicant. A negative attitude can impact the comfort and happiness of your loved one. While a negative attitude doesn't necessarily equate to poor care, it can indicate the overall "life view" a person has. Their negative attitude can then slowly seep its way into your loved one's home and have less than desirable consequences. Most "negative Nellies" will put on a happy face for the screening and interview process. Yet companies that are well versed in the pre-employment screening process can weed out these negative traits and will not employ negative applicants.

5) Just Looking For A Paycheck

You want and deserve the absolute best care for your loved one. The last thing you want your loved one to represent is a "paycheck" to his or her caregiver. Exceptional caregivers have a calling; A calling to care for others. It is something they feel from the heart. They embrace this calling with emotion and passion. Money driven caregivers are just that - driven by the need to get paid. The callous nature of money driven caregivers is usually seen in their past work history, their attitude, demeanor and their inability to build lasting relationships. Again, companies worth their salt can effectively weed out these types through their screening process. If you feel the caregiver your company is sending is just looking for a paycheck it may be time to change your company.

There are many things that seniors enjoy. They often enjoy the benefits of their life long work. They also enjoy their independence. As they age, many of their loved ones worry about their ability to stay in their home alone. Rather than give up their independence, they will investigate the options of home health care to satisfy their concerns.

As seniors advance in age, they can sometimes experience age related issues. Sometimes they aren't able to do things they used to because they don't have the energy to do them. Families don't like seeing their loved ones lose the ability to do things and it makes them wonder if they are able to care for themselves in a sufficient manner. Instead of seniors bowing to pressure and moving into a nursing home, they find an agency that specializes in home health care and continue to live in their home.

When seniors look to find a home health care agency, they find there are many agencies that can help them. These agencies have many different services available to for them to choose from. When seniors are ready to decide, they normally will make an appointment to speak with a representative that can guide them through the process.

As the agency representative meets with their prospective client, they listen to the things that are being said. It is important for them to get a clear understanding of what the client needs. When seniors are looking for a home health care professional, not only are they answering questions, they are asking many questions so they can get an understanding of the programs and benefits.

Seniors are normally very honest in the things they need help with. They want to continue to live independently and to have a home health care professional work with them will ensure they are able to do so for as long as possible. These seniors have to consider many different things before they start the service.

Some seniors are in very good health. They are able to live independently and care for themselves very well. They sometimes have trouble doing certain things around their home because of their age but they can still manage their household. For seniors in this situation, having a home health care professional visit once a week may be ideal. They can help with errands that need to be run, correspondence or just to check their health. Seniors enjoy the help and they don't feel they are being intruded upon.

There are other seniors that need more help from their home health care professional. Some seniors unfortunately have different medical or age related problems that interfere in their ability to care for themselves. Families worry and try to help them as much as possible but sometimes it's not enough. For seniors in this position, they need a home health care professional to visit daily, helping with basic household chores and ensuring they are in good health. Many home care professionals also assist their clients with basic life skill activities such as bathing, brushing their teeth or even cooking.

Once seniors have decided the amount of help they need, the make arrangements with the home health care agency of their choice. These agencies are familiar with the struggles many seniors face and strive to ensure they are able to continue enjoying life and good health. Their families are relieved that their loved ones are able to continue their independence but allowing a medical professional to help.

Nurse Next Door is the latest addition and opportunity to the ever growing home health care franchise services industry. As one of America's fastest growing opportunities and or, franchise businesses, is this truly a great way for the entrepreneur to invest in themselves? Here is a simple review of this particular franchise and opportunity.

Nurse Next Door is the latest franchise opportunity to hit the home health care industry. The cost of starting your business with NND comes at a liquid investment of $48,000, but the overall cost will be $100,000+ all together. The home health care industry is a constantly growing industry as well as lucrative, but with sweeping health care reform could this be the right decision for you?

The NND program does offer a complete training program ranging fro companion care, home management to special care services training. The company also provides for child care business start up as well as respite care the developmentally disabled. Adding in a marketing program this could be a solid franchise opportunity with a solid future of growth potential.

With sweeping health care reform however, this franchise business and complete industry as a whole will need careful consideration. With the in home care industry and these reforms, laws and new taxes could be a massive damper to the industry. With more control over the actual business of in home care with the State and Federal government, this could create a substantial income loss as well as the feeling of no control over your own business.

While Nurse Next Door is a legitimate franchise opportunity and home health care needs on the rise, this could be a solid business and opportunity for the entrepreneur looking. Marketing online and offline will also be a huge factor that will most likely create at least some monthly overhead. It is best however to complete all due diligence into any franchise business opportunity.

Health & fitness are an important part of our lives today. We have finally realized that nothing will amount to anything unless we are healthy. We need to understand that Health & fitness are not just about the body! Health is the complete Physical, Psychological, Social and Spiritual wellbeing!

Determined people are able to find time and ways to indulge in their obsession no matter where they are. Therefore if you are determined that you will follow a regular health & fitness regime, for the sake of having a healthy and fit body, you will be able to manage it even while at work in your office; while traveling; while meeting deadlines or even when on a vacation (Health & fitness do not need a vacation)

There are various ways how you can achieve your goal of having a regular health and fitness regime even while you are at your work. Walking up to your car, cabins, vending machines, canteen, nearest ATM, etc. every little thing you do during the course of the day burns calories! Meditate for a few minutes and do some easy breathing exercises when you take a break from work; rather than going for a smoke! These small things will go a long way in maintaining your health & fitness.

When traveling you can walk around when you are waiting at the airport or the train station. Try to take the stairs rather than the escalator or elevator! Do breathing exercises while waiting or you may do some visualization.

To maintain health & fitness while in office you can burn about 600 calories per day without even realizing, here are some of the ways how you can achieve this -

• Instead of sitting, chose to stand and chat on phone. If you stand continuously for 30 minutes you will burn 58 calories.
• Avoid using lifts and climb stairs for 15 minutes and you will burn about 128 calories. If you take two steps at a time you will not only tone your lower body but will also burn more calories.
• Similarly the downward climbing will strengthen your legs and will burn 33 calories.
• If you are on computer and are working your fingers on key pad and writing for two hours you will burn about 220 calories.
• Attempt 10 desk push ups and you tend to burn 30 more calories.
• Make a habit to visit your colleague in his cabin for a work instead of calling him over a phone, this will give not only give a personal touch, but you will benefit by losing 77 calories.
• Once in a weak or so clean up the mess on your table and burn 30 calories.
• Manage to do heel raises while working at your desk for five minutes and burn 24 calories and also strengthen your calf muscles.
For Health & fitness besides exercises you have a way to go, keep a check on what you eat. Try to grab protein rich food as it gives you a feeling of fullness and you are less likely to binge yourself on that non nutritious and calorie filled canteen food. Try to drink as much water as you can.

You can also plan your weak in such a way so that twice a weak you can have lunch of only fruits and salads, which is full in fiber and helps you in a number of ways to control your calories intake but at the same time gives you enough nutrition that your body needs to carry you through the day ahead. Avoid having carbonated drinks as these are very strong contributors towards unwanted calories since they contain cellulite which is very harmful for Health & fitness.

Now to the other aspect of Health & fitness; make sure that you meditate at least twice a day for 20 minutes! Once early in the morning to give your day a healthy start! Do positive assertion and visualization for 5 minutes at least 3-4 times a day, and practice Breathing Techniques as given on my website. For your spiritual health and fitness make sure you do some good deed without any selfish reason! Just like we used to when we were in school! It will go a long way in helping us maintain our positive self esteem! Pray and love yourself and others.

All the points mentioned above make for a good health and fitness regime.

Medical Home Health Care vs. Non-medical Home Health Care...if you are reading this, you are likely among the thousands of caregivers needing help caring for a loved one at home. What is the difference?

One significant difference is who pays the bill... you or insurance?

With a doctors order and insurance that is accepted by the agency and covers home care, these services are generally covered. Medical home care provides skilled medical services such as:

• Registered Nurse
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Therapy
• Home Health Aid
• Medical Social Worker

These medical personnel can only come to your home by an order from the doctor. This can be initiated by a trip to the doctor, a call to the doctor and sometimes a call to a home care agency explaining your difficulty. They can then contact the doctor.

Several questions need to be answered at this point to help you decide what you need.

• Is the patient recently home from the hospital?
• Is the patient falling at home?
• Are you confused about what medications to give the patient?
• Is there a significant change in functional ability or decline in activity level recently?
• Is the patient frequently going to the ER?

Yes to 2 or more of the above questions may indicate a potential need for medical home health care.

Discussing your felt need with your doctor will help you understand the issues and the answers.

Non-medical home care

If you and your doctor have ruled out the need for medical home care but you still feel you need some help, consider non-medical home care. Non-medical care means just that. Non medical. These services are often referred to as companion services.

Your best bet is to Google "home health assistance" or the like. You can always call a business and ask if they provide non-medical home care assistance. Beware though, most medical home care company's WILL provide solely a home health aid but at a ridiculous price. You may find better rates by hiring a company who provides only non-medical home care assistance. This is what they do best and they generally do it well.

Do your homework and use your phone. Ask the agency how long their workers have been there. Don't be afraid to pay a little more if you feel you are following your gut. You are depending on these people to give you or your loved one the proper care and respect that they need and deserve.

You may qualify for home health care physical therapy under Medicare - it's worth a look!

You may also want to consider how your care may be affected by the way your home care team is paid.

Home health care is a way to make like easier for the elderly to be able to continue living at home instead of a retirement home. But what does that mean exactly? What services can you expect? While all service providers are different and the quality of each varies, here are a few things many of them offer to help you with your decision making:

Companionship - The best trained care givers can do double-duty as a health care professional and a friend to the elderly patient. These people enjoy working with seniors and will engage in conversation, take the patient out on errands or will just sit a play a game of Scrabble with them.

Meal Planning - While not found with all agencies, some will not only help plan special meals for special needs, but they will shop for groceries, prepare dinners and clean up afterward as well.

Errand Running - Just like the rest of us, seniors have errands to run too and sometimes it is just nice to get out of the house. Thankfully, many agencies include affordable transportation to and from doctor visits, trips to the drug store and other necessary stops.

Medication - Qualified home care personnel will keep track of your loved one's medications by sorting the pills and making a log that explains which medicine gets administered at what time. This helps everyone; patients, family members and care givers, know when and what their loved one received so that the patient does not get over-medicated.

Bathing - Home health care professionals should assist the elderly with their daily grooming activities including bathing, combing their hair and ease in and out of the bathtub. Some will even assist with make up if needed. There is one of those areas where keeping the client's dignity is important.

Paying Bills - Keeping on top your finances is difficult for everyone not just seniors. Some health care providers will help the patient keep their bills organized and paid in a timely manner.

Special Needs - Some agencies are well prepared to take care of patients dealing with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Dementia care. These diseases can be troubling and tiresome for family care givers, so let the agency take some of the slack. Some agencies even provide Hospice Care when needed who not only care for the client, but for you too. Be sure that the agency you choose specializes in these if needed.

Finally, be sure to see if the agency you want is able to provide the right nurse to do the job well regarding wound care, insulin shots and direct medication administration. Don't settle for less when it comes to home health care. If the agency you want can't provide what is needed, walk away.

Diabetes is a life-long medical condition that does not have a cure, as yet. It can be debilitating if not managed properly, but with the right diabetic supplies and equipment for use in the home, it can be overcome. This disease may affect your life, but it should never be allowed to rule your life. With the right tools, you can control it to the point where it has very little effect on your quality of life, and we will show you how.

What is Diabetes?

The body takes in proteins, vitamins, minerals and sugars through the food we eat, and processes it all into making glucose. Diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough glucose to sustain it, or when there is an overabundance of it. Type 1 diabetics suffer from a definite lack of blood glucose, and must take in specified amounts of insulin to compensate. Type 2 diabetics will at times have too much blood glucose, and their condition is primarily controlled through diet and exercise, needing insulin only when their level of blood glucose drops to a dangerous low.

The ones who will need diabetic supplies at home most often are those who are suffering from Type 1, and their list of needs is more prolific than those who have Type 2. Type 2 diabetics will primarily use only glucose metering devices and test strips to maintain their health, having been educated in what to do when their blood glucose reaches certain levels and what can be done to correct it. Type 1 diabetics need more supplies because their condition must be constantly and closely monitored 24/7.

Basic Supplies

Glucose Meter: These can be invasive or non-invasive meters that test the current level of blood glucose in a diabetic through the use of test strips which are inserted into the meter. In the invasive version, the diabetic pierces their fingertip with a lancet and places a drop of their blood on a test strip. The meter calculates the glucose level, showing it on the screen of the meter itself. There is a defined range for every patient, and it is meant to be a guideline for daily glucose maintenance. The non-invasive meter does the same thing, but without piercing the skin or drawing blood.

Test Strips: Thin strips similar to litmus test strips; they are used to transport blood from the diabetic to the glucose meter. They are available primarily through prescription. If using a coded meter, the meter needs to be adjusted to match the code on each new vial of test strips; otherwise your blood glucose readings can be wrong.

Diabetic Socks: People with diabetes tend to have problems with their feet. Diabetic neuropathy can cause them to lose feeling in their feet due to poor blood circulation, and these socks will help prevent blisters and other wounds from forming, and can help with circulation issues.

Glucose Tablets: Typically used by both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics as a quick means for restoring the proper level of glucose without resorting to insulin injections. This quick fix meant to be taken before or after eating a proper meal.

Insulin Supplies

Insulin itself is only available through prescription, and must be kept at a particular temperature in the refrigerator to preserve its potency. Home health care supplies dealing with insulin use are generally limited to insulin cases for transporting it outside the home, and insulin pumps. The insulin cases are meant only for temporary transport of insulin injectors, vials and needles, and are designed to protect the insulin from extreme temperature changes.

Insulin pumps are only recommended for home use as diabetic supplies in extreme cases. Having to use an insulin pump means that your condition is to a point where it is hard to manage without a ready source of insulin being always at hand. They deliver fast-acting insulin to the patient subcutaneously over a 24 hour period of time, at the end of which the blood is tested to see if levels have been restored. The pumps are usually the size of a pager, and contain replaceable cartridges of infusion insulin, and a cannula for insertion under the skin.