2020 South Central Directory

porting 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? quality of care ratings for Medicare-certified 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? Don’t need care now? It is always a good idea to research your options before you have a need. Few things W hAT I S h OME h EALTh C ARE ? • Does the agency have a history of providing high quality care? You can find

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are more overwhelming than making decisions in the middle of a health crisis. The more information 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. ________________________ The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services developed Home Health Compare and the Star Rating System to provide consumers with an easy way to search for Home Health Agencies that provide the quality of care they desire. Web page address is www.medicare.gov/homehealth- compare/search.html.

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 curative treatments. Care is focused on managing symptoms and con- trolling pain as well as sup-

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F or information on S enior S ervices in Wisconsin, visit our website www.seniorresourcesonline.com

E N I O R R E S O U R C E S

2020-21