November is National Home Care & Hospice Month
Every November, Community Health Professionals joins home health and hospice agencies nationwide to celebrate National Home Care and Hospice Month, honoring healthcare employees and raising awareness of in-home health services available to local residents.
Private duty home care provides non-medical assistance for seniors and disabled clients, allowing them to stay at home amidst familiar surroundings and possessions, which has a positive effect on psychological well-being.
Skilled home healthcare (visiting nurses) is a specific form of home care that is physician-ordered and performed by registered nurses and therapists. Hospice care focuses on relieving symptoms and pain management for patients diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Community Health Professionals provides each of these core services to Ada, Bluffton and surrounding area.
In coming years home care and hospice are poised to play a key role. A wide range of forces is joining to drive care toward home and community-based services. Based on demography and dollars, experts agree that the destiny of health care lies in the home.
The first of the 78 million baby boomers turned 65 last year, and the rest of the boomers will reach their golden years in the next two decades, making health care dollars grow even scarcer. As the “silver tsunami” sweeps on, the most important trend in health care is the shift from hospitals and nursing homes to home care, from treatment to proactive monitoring and care.
However in coming decades, there will be even fewer family caregivers, according to a recent report from AARP. The study states that potential caregivers will be in much shorter supply starting in 2026 when the first boomers turn 80.
The causes of this impending care gap lie in well-known trends including longer life spans, smaller families, more divorces among those 50 and older, more people who never had children, and rising rates of disability associated with the obesity epidemic.
The number of frail older people over 65 is also expected to increase from 11 million in 2010 to 18 million in 2030, the report notes. The percentage of frail older people who are childless is expected to rise from 14 to 18 percent during this period, and the ratio of frail, older people who have only one or two adult children is expected to increase from 38 to 49 percent.
Most of these aging boomers will want to remain in their homes, but they may not be able to count on their families for long-term care when it’s needed.
Technology will help close the gap. Telehealth and activity monitors available now promote out-of-hospital care for chronic patients, solutions for healthy aging and help patients to self-manage their care.
But technology will never replace the human touch.
“Nurses, aides, social workers and volunteers are the heart of home health and hospice care,” said Brent Tow, CHP president and CEO. “They are more than caregivers for their patients. They also become friends, and almost family.”
And that intimate, one-to-one care is another reason why home care is poised to a key role in health care in coming years.
Community Health Professionals offers a complete range of home health and hospice services throughout northwest and west central Ohio. Home health, hospice and related services can begin with a phone call to 419-634-7443. Or visit www.ComHealthPro.org to learn more.
