Home health projects nowadays may look pretty simple but actually, it is the complex and carefully designed framework that makes it looks so. Home health care is high in demand, especially for the aged people, ailing or otherwise. With such a rise in demand and the noticeable shortage in supply of home caregivers as well as nurses, there is an immediate need in designing a more structured and strong home health care framework.
Experts in this industry suggest such changes to be made for several good reasons. They say :
- Such a framework is required to support the transformation process of home health and home-based care
- It will also help the industry to meet all the specific and peculiar needs of the and
- It will significantly help the US health care system to be better helping it to cope with the rise in demand.
Corroborating with the suggestions of the experts, there are lots of chief thought leaders and stakeholders who even go a step ahead and come up with crucial themes about the future of home health care.
Synthesizing the future of home-based health care industry
Institute of Medicine and National Research Council conducted a workshop way back in 2014 to synthesize the future of home health care by several means including:
- Qualitative research
- Case studies
- A literature review and
- The themes itself.
The people involved in this research typically articulated the vision for a better and more intensive home-based care. In the end, they have come up with a bold, robust and much more effective framework, especially for the Medicare-certified home health agency. This will significantly create a better future of the home health care industry.
Most of the home health care service providers of today have already started to implement these changes in their services and business policies and have come up with a varied and better set of home health care services. Visit sites like https://myallamericancare.com and others and you will have a fair idea of such transformation.
The shift in demographics
If you look at the overall demographics of America as well as that of any other country in this modern world, you will notice that there is a dramatic shift. With such a change it is expected that:
- In 2019, the older people aging above 65 years will be more than the number younger than five and
- The people will age and at the same time live longer.
However, on the flip side, it is also expected that this increase in numbers of aged people who will continue to live linger will need home care and other support for their day to day activities. This is because these people will live with multiple ailments, one or a combination of chronic conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Dementia and
- Functional impairments.
They will suffer from mobility issues that will hinder them to follow the basics of life as well as managing their household.
The challenges in it
However, just as every new thing that needs to be implemented, there are also a few challenges that the authors have identified and have summarily come up with recommendations for the accomplishment of such a framework.
One of the most significant and greatest challenges the health care industry facing today in the country is ensuring that the older citizens suffering from serious chronic ailments and other maladies of old age can stay as independent as possible
The health care industry must successfully overcome this challenge so that the old people age with dignity. It must be done in a manner in which they can:
- Meet their expectations
- Voice their preferences and
- Get their care needs.
There is also another significant challenge that the home health care industry faces which is in the financial health of both the federal and the state governments. This typically dangles in the balance due to the several implications for Medicaid and Medicare costs.
Recommendations of the experts
In order to meet this specific challenge successfully, the experts recommend that the home-based care industry needs to envision the potential value of such care. This will, in turn, help them to:
- Create a better pathway for home-based care
- To optimize its potential and
- To integrate their vision completely into the health care system.
The experts also propose a few bold steps that the industry should take apart from having a better initial vision. These steps will help them to meet with the needs and support the transformation of all home health agencies and home-based care facilities. It will eventually help them to gain the desired recognition in the health care system overall.
The difference in terms
The terms ‘home-based care’ and ‘home health care’ have different meanings, which most people mix up.
Home-based care typically refers to the range of care services that are provided in the home. These types of care processes help and support patients and include:
- Caregiving
- Personal care services
- Skilled services such as therapy and nursing
- Home-based primary care
- Hospice and even
- Hospital at home.
Home health care, on the other hand, denotes Medicare skilled home care. These are paid for under the Medicare home health benefit. These types of payments are delivered by the home health care agencies that are Medicare certified. Ideally, home health care is a specific type of home-based care.
Summarizing the facts
The research and discussion for creating a stronger framework point out a significant thing which is, creating a call for action among the home health care agencies as well as the home-based care providers. Not only that, but some serious steps are also required to be taken by the policymakers and providers, patients and caregivers as well as all those who are interested and involved in this specific field. It is required to clarify and define the gamut of home-based care, its relevance to health care overall including the critical roles, capabilities, and characteristics of it. This will help in optimizing the value of the home health agencies to the fullest.
