What’s the Difference Between Senior Care and Home Health Care?
The Boom of the Home Healthcare Industry:
In OKC, home health care and senior care are rapidly growing industries. This obviously owes to the growing need of such care services. The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that each day almost ten thousand baby boomers become 65 years old. Despite many assisted living facilities available in OKC, a large number of seniors insist on continuing to live in their own homes and receive the required care there. In the U.S., people have almost forgotten the practice of extended family living. Therefore, elders mostly have to live on their own. Statistics reveal that by the end of 2050, the number of U.S. residents needing daily home health care services will be double the current number, which is around 12 to 27 million.
The Difference Between the Two: Senior Care and Home Health Care
People often confuse senior care and home health care services. They either think of them as identical or as strangers to each other. However, the latter is less correct. Senior care and home health care complement each other.
Senior Care: One major feature of senior care is that it is a non-medical care facility. A senior care member can perform all tasks to assist the elderly except for medical tasks. Senior care services deal with living aspects like medication reminders, bathing, housekeeping, changing clothes, companionship, laundry, etc.; in other words, essential daily activities. The client is the decision-maker, choosing whether or not to make a strict schedule. For those who meet the health qualifications for long-term care insurance, senior care services will be covered. Others need to shell out money from their own pockets to pay for these services.
Home Health Care: The best way to understand this service is by breaking down the phrase. “Home” means that the care is provided in the client’s home, “health” indicates medical health care and “care” means that the staff is well-equipped to provide medical care. It is mostly the case that shortly before the time of discharge after a procedure, the doctor will prescribe home health care for the patient. This simply means that even when the patient returns home, they won’t have to worry about medical care and related services. Apart from medical health care, the home health care companies of OKC also provide additional help to the elderly for activities like bathing, laundry, dressing, etc.
How are They Complementary to One Another?
Generally, it is the home health care company that contacts the client, and accordingly an aide arrives as per the doctor’s written orders. The nurse then meets with the client and their family and performs a thorough inspection, during which she may find that the client requires help for a non-medical task. For example, the health care company might send in extra help for bathing for a certain period of time. However, it is normal for the elderly to require assistance for certain activities like bathing and dressing. This indicates that a client might be in need of both senior care and home health care services.