Home Health

Most adults who become seriously ill or injured complete at least a part of their recovery at home, whether or not they feel prepared to do so. Those with serious chronic illnesses often need additional at-home support to help them manage their illness successfully.

MultiCare’s Home Health’s nurses, physical, speech and occupational therapists, social workers and home health aides are disease management and rehabilitation experts. We are ready to help you, your caregiver and your doctor manage your illness or assist with your recovery at home, to improve your quality of life and speed your return to your normal day-to-day activities.

What is Home Health?

Home Health is an umbrella term for a range of care and support services offered to individuals who need help recovering from or managing an illness or injury. These services are provided to you where you live, whether that be a private residence, adult home, retirement home or assisted living facility, and vary widely depending on your specific care needs.

Home health services are available on a short-term, or long-term basis, depending on how your health progresses. Services are provided on a scheduled basis by appointment. You may have one or several appointments each week, depending on the care you need. We do not provide all-day nursing or health aide care, but if you or your loved one needs this level of support, we can help you find an appropriate service.

How We Help

The services that Home Health provides include:

• Disease management education
• Home-based rehabilitation
• Home safety evaluations
• Foley catheter changes
• Ostomy care
• Post-operative care, including knee and hip replacements
• Telemonitoring for patients to monitor their vitals
• Wound care

Our goals are to:

• Help families allow older loved ones to “age in place,” and remain in their home for as long as possible.
• Reduce the need for patients to have to go to the hospital.
• Limit the amount of travel for patients with poor mobility.
• Allow recovering patients to get back to their daily lives as quickly as possible.
• Ensure patients’ living environments are safe.

Who Can Receive Home Health Services?

To be eligible for Home Health services, Medicare, Medicaid and most other private insurance companies require that:

• You have a need for skilled care — such as physical therapy
• In-home care is medically and reasonably necessary
• The home health care you need is intermittent, not continuous*
• You are homebound
• You are under the care of a doctor

* Note: While Home Health Services does not provide constant, round-the-clock care, we can help you access that level of care if that is your need.