
Home health care is often the first step after a hospital visit or skilled nursing facility discharge. It can be incredibly helpful, offering the chance to recover and get stronger in your home.
Here, we’re delving into the experience, looking at what you can expect in your first week of care and how the whole process works. Understanding the various aspects can help you get the most out of your home health care.
First, it’s important to keep in mind that although they sound similar, home health care and home care are two different types of care. Home health care provides skilled care, such as wound dressing, IV medication administration, physical therapy, and more, on a short-term basis to help you recover from an illness, injury, or surgery. Home care provides more general assistance with daily tasks, like bathing, dressing, eating, and light housekeeping. Home care services can sometimes be prescribed alongside home health care if a doctor deems it medically necessary, but it will be for only a short time.
Now let’s explore what you can expect during the first week of home health care.
Home health care provides various skilled services
Understanding what types of care home health care entails is the first step in knowing what to expect. Medicare covers multiple areas, including:
- Skilled nursing care, often from registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs), to help with wound care, medication management, IV medications, and more.
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy from qualified experts.
- Medical social services, which provide support with any social and emotional challenges related to your care.
Sometimes, home care services, which focus on practical assistance such as bathing and dressing, are prescribed alongside home health care for a short time, although these services typically fall under the umbrella of home care.
The variety of services allows home health care services to adapt to the needs of any individual. The result is highly personalized care in the comfort of your home.
Home health care begins with a detailed initial visit
If you’re at a hospital or skilled nursing facility and your doctor has prescribed home health care, you should receive your first visit within two days of your discharge. This generally won’t be on the day you first come home, as you’ll need time to settle back in.
This initial visit serves as a consultation, during which a health care professional (typically a nurse) will visit your home to initiate the care process. Areas covered in this consultation can include:
- A detailed assessment of your health and needs.
- A discussion of areas where you can support yourself and those where you may need assistance.
- Any required Medicare-related details.
- Information about the provided services and how they can support you.
- Details of your schedule, so service providers can visit at suitable times.
- An examination of information provided by your doctor, including any instructions you should follow.
The consultation is also a chance for you to ask questions and express preferences about your care.
Providers will develop a care plan
A care plan is a crucial part of home health care. This plan is created through collaboration between the agency and your health care provider.
The plan provides important details about your care, including:
- Which services you’ll receive and who will provide them.
- Frequency of visits.
- Treatment goals and expected results.
Your care plan combines your doctor’s recommendations with information about your current needs. Notably, the home health care agency allocates staff and services to meet the doctor’s goals for your care.
Once created, the care plan is used to guide all services you receive and the tasks performed. Using the plan helps ensure the entire process is focused on long-term health goals.
Creating the plan
This plan is typically created after your consultation visit. However, some providers create it earlier, especially if you are transitioning from a hospital or skilled nursing facility to your home.
Regardless of when the plan is created, you have the right to be involved in the process. This will often be discussed during your initial appointment, giving you the opportunity to discuss your needs and the outcomes you hope for.
A varied team will provide care
An essential part of home health care is your care team. This is the group of professionals who provide your care and the people overseeing them.
Having a team like this is powerful. You get access to experts in multiple fields, like skilled nursing, physical therapy, and more, all working together to promote the best outcome.
You’ll be introduced to each team member
Your first week will often be filled with introductions. Each new care team member will introduce themselves and explain what they’ll be doing.
These introductions are a fantastic time to ask questions and to start getting to know each person.
Your visits during the first week might take longer than normal because of introductions and explanations. The process should move faster and be more streamlined in the weeks ahead.
Home health care will match your needs
Providers should regularly review your care plan to ensure it always meets your needs and adapt it if necessary. For example, if there is a significant change in health or symptoms, such changes often require modifications to the care plan.
As a result, it’s important to discuss any symptom changes and concerns with the people caring for you. Doing so gives them the information they need to support you well.
Your care should be responsive, where staff adjust their approaches to help you feel comfortable and supported throughout the experience.
You will receive regular skilled care visits
Once home health care has started, you’ll get regular visits from your care team.
The frequency of visits can be very different between people, as it’s highly dependent on your personalized care plan. However, you’ll often receive a few skilled visits per week, each lasting from around 30 to 60 minutes.
You might also get home care aide visits (if these are part of your care plan). Such visits could be more frequent and last longer than skilled visits.
The care should proceed until you no longer need it or until you have reached the limits of Medicare’s support. Regardless of the endpoint, the care team will work with you to promote a smooth transition, which may include teaching you strategies to care for yourself and discussing alternative care options if needed.
Your first week of home health care: Key points
The first week of home health care is focused on building a strong foundation for recovery. You can expect a detailed initial visit, the creation of a personalized care plan, and introductions to your care team. Throughout this time, providers will assess your needs, set goals, and begin delivering skilled services aligned with your doctor’s recommendations. Regular communication and care plan updates help ensure the support remains appropriate as your situation evolves. Understanding these steps makes it easier for you to navigate the process and take an active role in your care.