"Home care" is a simple phrase that encompasses
a wide range of health and social services. These
services are delivered at home to recovering,
disabled, chronically or terminally ill persons
in need of medical, nursing, social, or therapeutic
treatment and/or assistance with the essential
activities of daily living.
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, non-institutionalized
lives, are receiving home care services as their
physical capabilities diminish. Younger adults
who are disabled or recuperating from acute illness
are choosing home care whenever possible. Chronically
ill infants and children are receiving sophisticated
medical treatment in their loving and secure
home environments… As hospital stays decrease,
increasing numbers of patients need highly skilled
services when they return home. Other patients
are able to avoid institutionalization altogether,
receiving safe and effective care in the comfort
of their own homes.*
*Source: National Association for Home Care & Hospice,
228 Seventh Street, SE, Washington, DC 2003 www.nahc.org
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