Assess the need for home health care

By Margie Pence

This is a wonderful time of year when families gather together and reconnect. It's a time to share the joys, or sometimes the burdens, of the year gone by.

For those with an aging loved one, the season also provides a precious opportunity to reassess the physical, mental and emotional well-being of that family member. It's often the time when grown children notice, for instance, that their parent could use some assistance with their health care needs at home.

Home health agencies can provide that integral piece of the puzzle that allows older individuals, or those living with chronic conditions, to remain independent and in their own home, as many wish.

Experience shows that people tend to heal and recuperate from illness better and faster when they can be at home and sleep in their own bed, sit in their own recliner and even eat meals at their own kitchen table.

November is National Home Care Month. The primary intent of the annual observance is to recognize both home care providers and volunteers and the valuable work they do year-round. The Iowa Alliance in Home Care (IAHC) is the statewide non-profit information resource for both care providers and consumers regarding all aspects of home care.

A recent survey shows nine out of 10 soon-to-be retired baby boomers would prefer home care to institutional care. Home care, when successfully delivered, combines compassion and efficiency with the latest in health care technology. It encourages independence, while helping to keep families together.

The need for home care services is expected to increase in coming years. More than 78 million boomers are now approaching retirement age. By the year 2020, about 12 million Americans will need long-term care.

For caregivers, home care can be an attractive and cost-effective option. An important focus of quality home care services is patient and family education in the safe use of medication, optimal living with a chronic illness, strengthening and rehabilitation.

Mercy Home Care is celebrating 25 years of providing caring service for patients in their homes, tailoring that care to each patient's needs.

The best time to look at home care options is well before a health crisis occurs, when all parties involved can provide input and share in the decision-making process. So take time this holiday season to talk openly with a loved one who might need a bit of extra care at home. It could be the best present you give them.

For more about home care services offered by Mercy Medical Center, call (319) 398-6034 or visit www.mercycare.org

Margie Pence is director of Mercy Home Care at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.