Senior Resources South Central

tive treatments. Care is focused on managing symp- toms and controlling pain as well as supporting patients and their families through the end of life. Some things to consider when choosing a care provider: • What level of care do I need? • Is this type of care cov- ered by Medicare or pri- vate insurance? W HAT I S H OME H EALTH C ARE ? • Does the agency have a history of providing high quality care? You can find quality of care rat- ings for Medicare-certi- fied home health agencies on Medicare’s Home Health Compare website. • How long has the agency been in business? • Does the agency provide multiple services? If my needs change, can they provide me different lev- els of care?

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Don’t need care now? It is always a good idea to research your options before you have a need. Few things are more overwhelming than making decisions in the middle of a health crisis. The more infor- mation you can gather, the more ready you will be to make a decision in the event you need care. Getting assistance from a home health agency can drasti- cally reduce your risk of a more serious illness or medical condition later on. It may be difficult to ask for help, but with the different levels of care available, there may be just the right amount of assistance out there for you. Article submitted by SSM Health At Home, a nonprofit home health care agency providing skilled home health care, palliative care, hospice, home medical equip- ment, infusion pharmacy , and community health services across south central Wisconsin.

epending on the level of care provided, you may hear terms like skilled home health care, non-medical home care, palliative care, or hospice. The type of care you choose will depend on the level of support needed. Skilled home health care helps patients remain at home while they recover from an ill- ness or injury. Skilled care is provided by a licensed home health agency and may include nursing, therapies, medical social work support, and aides. Non-medical home care pro- vides assistance with personal care services such as dressing, grooming, eating, and other activities of daily living. Palliative care is a form of home health care for patients facing chronic or quality of life limiting illnesses and is focused on relieving symp- toms, pain, and stress. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments and during any stage of an ill- ness. Hospice is for patients with a limited life expectancy who are no longer receiving cura-

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