What is home care?

Home care encompasses a wide range of health and social services. These supportive services are provided at the client’s home to recovering, disabled or chronically ill persons in need of medical, nursing, social, or therapeutic treatment and/or assistance with the essential activities of daily living.

These services may be provided to anyone who experiences difficulties in providing self care while living alone. Among those who may benefit are individuals and families of all ages who are challenged by a variety of health and social problems such as short or long-term illness, injury, physical handicaps, mental health disorders, and chemical dependencies. Our clients are often people who are ready to be discharged from a hospital or a nursing facility, but need additional care at home. They may require short-term assistance at home because of outpatient surgery or maternity-related incapacity; need additional assistance to live independently due to illness, disability, or aging; have conditions such as congestive heart disease, diabetes, muscular, nervous, or respiratory disorders; or are terminally ill and want to spend their remaining time in the comfort of home.

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. More and more older people, electing to live independent lives outside of an institution, are taking advantage of home care services as their physical capabilities diminish. Younger adults who are disabled or recuperating from acute illness are choosing home care whenever possible. Thanks to the success of modern technology, yielding state-of-the-art medical equipment for use in the home, and technicians who are trained to operate such equipment, an increasing number of people are able to leave institutions or avoid ever having to enter them. They can be cared for safely and effectively in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by the ones they love.