The Advantages of Using Home Health Services During a Pandemic

Two key words have surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic: “home” and “health.” But many senior adults who shelter in their homes are reluctant to admit home health staff in to see them. These caregiving professionals, however, can maintain or improve health, help seniors manage serious illnesses, and provide therapy that rehabilitates and prevents injuries.

Deni O’Malley, RN, Director of St. Andrews & Bethesda Home Health, understands the fear, but offers a number of compelling reasons to let home health staff into the home.

Safety

“We take the wearing of personal protective equipment very seriously,” Deni says.

When visiting a home health patient, both the patient and the clinician wear masks. Though a small minority of patients seen by home health staff have tested positive for the virus, anyone who has tested positive or is suspected of being positive is treated appropriately. “Even 30 to 60 days after a diagnosis of infection and recovery, people can still test positive for the virus,” Deni says. “Though the risk of them being contagious is very low, we still put on full protective gear for the first 14 days we are in the home.”

In addition, anyone who has tested positive or is suspected of being positive is scheduled as the last visit of the day to prevent the possibility of taking the virus to another home.

In addition, all equipment—blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, thermometers, etc.—remain in that home, and will only be used for that one patient.

St. Andrews & Bethesda Home Health can also assist with telemedicine appointments. “Not very many of our patients have smartphones or computers, yet we don’t want them to have to leave their home for a doctor’s appointment,” Deni says.

“We can help the patient with a telemedicine appointment with a physician because, while we are in the home, we can use our smartphones or computers to make the video and audio connection.”

To minimize the number of home health visits, staff also conduct phone visits. “Our nurses are very skilled at asking the right questions to determine a patient’s condition,” Deni says.

Health Advantages

According to Deni, with proper protective equipment and careful infection control practices, the risk to patients and caregivers is minimal. What is more consequential is not taking advantage of the skilled care home health provides: managing serious chronic diseases, medication management, therapy, the expertise of social workers, and the assistance of aides to help seniors with the activities of daily living.

She remembers an elderly couple. “The husband had just left the hospital, and the couple refused home health even though both of them were very frail. We explained that we take every precaution. Patient and home health staff are masked, and the same home health staff member would conduct each visit. We talked about the increased fall risk for the couple without home health and subsequent readmission to the hospital, but they wouldn’t allow us in,” she says.

A few days later the man fell, and was readmitted to the hospital. He was dehydrated and had been taking his medications incorrectly and, while at the hospital, he was exposed to COVID-19.

“I understand the concern, but people need to realize by not receiving the skilled home health care they need, they increase the chance of being re-admitted to a hospital,” Deni says.

One additional benefit includes mental and emotional health. “The patients we see are generally isolated without the increased isolation caused by a pandemic,” Deni says. “So we are aware our patients need to see a caring face, hear a friendly voice, and have an opportunity to express how they feel and what they need.”

Cost and Safety

Medicare covers the cost of home health for anyone who qualifies per a referral from a physician. The only items not covered are durable medical equipment like walkers, wheelchairs or other assistive devices. All other supplies and services are covered.

Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has placed a temporary waiver on the homebound requirement for home health services. Lifting this home health requirement increases the availability of services to seniors who would otherwise not qualify. Because of COVID-19, this vulnerable population does not have to leave their homes for skilled services like physical therapy at an outpatient clinic, or lab work drawn at an outpatient lab. Home health can deliver these services in the senior’s home without the potential exposure to COVID-19.

If you’re looking for more information about our various home health services, simply check out the Home Health Care page and see how we can start serving you today.