Home Care Week Magazine

Description

Millions of United States citizens lack health insurance, in contrast to citizens of Canada and other industrialized nations where lifelong health insurance is guaranteed for everyone. Should the United States adopt universal health insurance? Others argue that universal health insurance can successfully and efficiently guarantee the health coverage of all citizens, while others counter that countries with universal coverage have expensive and inadequate care and that market forces can most effectively solve the shortcomings of the U.S. health care system.

Some patients need regular medical care and other assistance, but are not sick enough for a hospital or nursing home. Home health care allows them to receive skilled nursing and other care in their own homes. Home care services are the fastest-growing sector of the health care industry, increasing about 30 percent per year in the 1990s. This growth is largely because home care is less expensive than hospital or nursing home care. Home care also is very popular with patients because most people prefer staying at home, rather than entering a hospital or nursing home. About 15,000 home health agencies provide most home care services in the United States. Many agencies are privately owned. Hospitals, public health departments, and other organizations also offer home care.

The new provisions were controversial for a number of reasons. Critics argued that the law opened the way for the privatization of Medicare. They objected in particular to a provision that prohibits Medicare from negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices, arguing that this loss of purchasing power and the increased demand for prescription drugs resulting from the new coverage will likely drive up drug prices. Home health-care services were also expected to be negatively affected because the bill cut Medicare reimbursement for these services by an estimated $6.5 billion.

As the population ages, more nursing homes will be necessary. By 2030 the elderly will represent 22 percent of the United States population, and the federal government predicts that 2.4 million additional nursing home beds will be needed. Alternatives to nursing-home care are also becoming more widespread and affordable. Home health care enables even seriously ill patients or those needing complicated treatments to remain in the comfort of their own homes, cared for by a visiting nurse or home health aide. Assisted living, which provides board, lodging, and social activities, but not health care, is attractive to people who need some help with daily activities but do not need constant medical care.

Home Care is defined as service providing care at home, care provided at home by family members or professional caregivers. Home care is very important because this is the foundation of the health system in a community. Without the necessary knowledge in providing care at home within a family, care outside the community will be irrelevant. As Home Care Week is celebrated, this magazine entitled HOME CARE WEEK will show us new trends on homecare system.

Notes

Last updated on Jul 8, 2010.