"Which home health agency should I choose?" I hear this questions often during caregiver support groups and while visiting with people I meet. You may expect me to tell you to pick Freedom Home Health and Hospice....and while I would be thrilled for you to pick Freedom...I am also passionate about you having patient choice. In fact, it is a law!!
Having a choice in who serves you is one of the silver linings of actually being in a position to need the services. Think about it in these terms: When you are looking for a doctor to take care of your aching hip you probably do a little research, ask people you know who they would recommend and from there make an appointment. You attend the appointment and are pleased with his knowledge and manner. Chances are, you will continue seeing this doctor for the services he provides when you need them.
Choosing a home health agency can seem a little daunting at first as there are 26 different agencies listed on www.medicare.gov offering the EXACT same services. What many don't realize is that home health and hospice services are paid through Medicare and are regulated by the federal government. If an agency representative tells you that his agency can offer more services than another agency, RUN! They are not being honest with you and are driven by money not patient care. I realize this is a pretty bold statement but you would be amazed at the things I witness or hear about all too often. One representative from a competing agency told a client who had chosen Freedom that we did not take Medicare. Fortunately, her agency did and would be happy to serve the client. Please make a note here..... EVERY HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE AGENCY TAKES MEDICARE!! Ethically, this company would be at the bottom of my list.
While serving residents in Social Services for two years at Parkway Health Center, I was able to get to know many of the 26 agencies serving our area and I believe there is good in all of them and that the majority of them truly want to serve the client to the best of their ability. As clients would admit to the facility for rehabilitation after a hospital stay I would interview them so that I was aware of their preferences for everything from when they like to bathe or shower to hobbies and activities. One of the sections of questions included the following: "Are you affiliated with any home health agency?" I wanted to know if they had received services before in their home, what agency it was and if they were pleased with that company. Those who had received services before were generally pleased and wanted to continue with that agency when they were released from Parkway. It was very rare, but did happen, that the client wanted to try a different company.
If the client had never had a home health agency I suggested they speak to family or friends over the next few days and ask them if they knew of an agency that they could recommend. If they were still unable to come up with a choice I gave them a list of the 26 agencies serving our area and recommended that they call and interview the agency to find out if that agency will fit their needs. Remember, we ALL PROVIDE the SAME SERVICES but you may prefer a male aide for showering or personal cares. List the specific preferences out and call a few agencies. Visit with them. My favorite question to ask is what makes their company different from the 25 others offering services. If they stumble on this question or tell you that they are better trained or have better therapists or nurses...ask them why they feel that way. I personally believe my nurses are the best so I can understand why another company would feel that way about their own nurses. I also know that my nurses chose the hospice or health care forum to serve because of personal experiences or specialties in specific hospice care.
Bottom line: It is your choice!! Don't let a discharge planner or Social Worker rob you of that freedom!!
Many times a client will have an accident, maybe have a fall and end up at the hospital for a week recuperating. The elderly can become very weakened after a week in bed and would need some more assistance with cares as well as some physical therapy to restrengthen them. This is a perfect situation for home health. In a hospital setting the discharge planner may think he is making things easier for you by saying, "We are going to send you home with home health and to make this an easier transition you just need to sign these papers and I will get it all taken care of for you." You just had someone else decide what was in your best interest by taking the choice away from you. Most people don't even know they have a choice.
Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions or if I could tell you more about Home Health or Hospice. I realize it is your choice.....I would be honored if you chose Freedom! I did!!
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