Homecare allows patients to stay at home, provides support for families and improves quality of life and levels of independence. Home care helps clients manage chronic health conditions such as congestive heart failure or diabetes. Home care services assist elderly clients and clients with cognitive impairment (memory problems) to remain in their homes with long term services and supports. Home Health services help adults, seniors and pediatric clients during recovery after a hospital or facility stay. This type of health care service provides support that helps clients to remain safely at home. Home care services can include many services including nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, assistive equipment, nurses, case managers, social workers, aides and nutrition services. There are different levels of care that may be needed at different times.

Approximately 12 million individuals nationwide receive home care services. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans age 65 and older is expected to double.

The demand for home care is on the rise as a result of this anticipated increase.

Home care means better health management and preventative care management. Home care coordinates with doctors and extends the doctors awareness of how the patient manages at home. People with chronic health conditions have a greater risk of being re-hospitalized, more frequent visits to the emergency department and can need more specialized medical treatment as their conditions worsen. A person whose health condition is closely monitored and is assisted with needs in their home like personal care assistance, medication management and ongoing assessment will be less likely to need hospitalization or emergency treatment and/or premature nursing home admission.

Carmen Hlosta Director of Certification-Medicaid for Chautauqua County Health and Human Services explains, “Medicaid pays for homecare services through Medicaid Fee for Service, Medicaid Managed Care and Managed Long-term Care. These services are ordered by your doctor and can keep you home in the community with your family and friends instead of being in a nursing home or assisted living institution. The goal is the right care at the right time in the right place.”

New York state has many services and programs as alternatives to nursing home care. Medicare and Medicaid may provide coverage for medical home care services. Dana Corwin, Director of Aging Health Services for Chautauqua County Office for the Aging notes, “Non-medical care may be received at home and can range from light housekeeping, assistance with personal care, social adult day services and personal emergency alarms. These services along with the case management of the client in the community help them stay in the community as independently as possible for as long as possible.”

There are two types of home care available. Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHA’s) provide health care and support services to individuals who need medically ordered or skilled health care. They can provide long-term nursing and home health aide services. Services provided may be reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance. Care must be ordered or prescribed by your medical team and doctor and can include a registered nurse, physical therapist and other services under their direction. Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs) offer home care services including personal care assistance, housekeeping support services as well as private duty nursing services. Services provided by LHCSA’s may be paid for by Medicaid, some government programs like the Office for the Aging home care program called EISEP, Veterans services and some long term care health insurance policies. Care can be for a short term or long term management of client needs in their own home and is under the supervision of a registered nurse.

The Chautauqua County Home Care Association is a not-for-profit partnership. The members are home care providers, assisted living facilities, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office for the Aging. This association was formed solely for the purpose of promoting cooperation and communication among all agencies involved in the provision of home health care services in Chautauqua County. The home care agencies in Chautauqua County are Accredited Care, Aftercare Nursing Services, Caregivers, Chautauqua Opportunities, Crane Home Care Inc., Hospice and Palliative Care, Hultquist Place, Lake Shore Home Care, New Vision Services, PSA Healthcare, Trusted Nurse Staffing, Venture Forthe, the WCA Home and Willcare. These agencies serve our community and provide home health levels of care.

You can contact NY Connects for information about local agencies and programs for home health services. The NY Connects Helpline at 753-4582, 363-4582 or 661-7582 or e-mail us at CCNYC@co.chautauqua.ny.us. NY Connects is the place to call to get connected to the help you need. NY Connects assists people of all ages. NY Connects offers information and assistance services and it is confidential and free and focused on the consumer’s needs and resources available to them. NY Connects is brought to you by the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging and the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services.