Home Care Facts
What is Home Care?
A broad range of health care and support services
provided in people's homes.
Home Care can provide any or all of the following services:
- Professional
nursing
- Certified Home Health Aides
(trained home care nurses aides)
- Rehabilitation therapies: physical,
occupational & speech-language
- Medical social services and counseling
- Homemaker and home support services
- Infusion therapy and specialized
high-technology services
- Laboratory and diagnostic services
- Case management services
- Nutritional support therapies
and counseling
- Behavioral and mental health
counseling & support services
- Preventive
health & wellness programs
- Also - ask about new telehealth
services available from many agencies to help monitor people with acute and
chronic illnesses, and maintain them at optimal health
Note that not every agency provides all of the above services. Ask about
the services you particularly would like for yourself or your loved one when
you contact the licensed Home Care agency of your choice. (see below)
A special note about HOSPICE CARE:
- Hospice services to assist patients
and families with terminal illness care and counseling are also provided
in the home and are often available through New Jersey's many Hospice Agencies.
Many home health agencies also have licensed hospice agencies as part of
their services. The goal of Hospice Care is to help people and families
cope with end-of-life needs in dignity and comfort, with the support of
a hospice team.
Why is home care so important?
- Meeting the care needs of people
of all ages and their families
- The security & comfort of
care and support in your own home
- The dignity and independence which
are possible in your own home
- Support for families while keeping
them together, helping each other
- Personalized care, tailored to
the needs of each patient and home situation
- Professionally-supervised services,
monitored and regulated to assure
quality and adherence to state and national standards
- Flexibility of scheduling care
24 hours a day, every day of the year
- Available in every community throughout
New Jersey
- Cost-effective alternative to
institutional long term care and acute care
- Innovator of community-based preventive
health and wellness programs
New Jersey Home Care
Guide
WHERE and WHEN is Home Care Available ?
- In EVERY COMMUNITY in New Jersey
- 24 hours a day - seven days a
week - 365 days a year
WHO Can Receive Home Care?
- People of ALL AGES with acute
or chronic health care needs
WHO Pays for Home Care?
- Medicare *
- Medicaid *
- Private Health and Long Term Care
Insurance Plans *
- Managed Care Plans *
- Individual patients and families
- State programs such as JACC and CAP*
* Note that each payor has rules which determine
what type of care is covered and
which patients will qualify for care at home
HOW Do You Obtain Home Care?
- If under doctor's care, ask to
be referred to a Home Care agency
- Call a Home Care agency in your
community and just ask for assistance. The agency can help you contact your
doctor if medical orders are required for your care
- If you are in a hospital or awaiting discharge from a nursing
home or skilled nursing facility, talk with the Discharge Planner at the facility
and ask for assistance with referral to a Home Care agency in your community
- Ask your HMO Case Manager or Long
Term Care Insurance Case Manager to refer you for Home Care if you have either
of those types of insurance coverage
A Consumer's Guide To
Home Care
How Do I Choose A Home Care Provider?
First, remember that your best protection is care
from a licensed, high quality AGENCY... not an independent provider.
- Licensed Home Care Agencies are
regulated and monitored by the state
- Licensed Agencies provide professional
supervision to assure that you receive the care you need and want,
with adjustments in your care as your situation requires.
- Licensed Agencies can provide
a professional assessment of your care needs
- Licensed Agencies can provide
back-up in the event a staff member is unavailable
- Licensed Agencies manage taxes
and other employer withholding responsibilities
- Licensed Agencies can change their
services to meet your changing needs for care
Be Sure to Choose a Licensed, High Quality Home
Care Agency
Agencies in New Jersey may be licensed
as:
- "Home Health Agencies"
by the Dept. of Health & Senior Services. (Tel: 609/ 588-7779)
- "Health Care Service Firms"
by the Division of Consumer Affairs (Tel: 973/504-6301)
- The License is a quality control
which gives consumers the protection of state regulations and oversight
- Certified Home Health Aides in New Jersey go through a rigorous
state background check, and are recertified every two years by the NJ Board
of Nursing
Other Quality Controls to ask agencies
about include:
- Accreditation
- Medicare-certification (if your
care may be covered by Medicare)
- Medicaid Approval if you
are eligible for coverage by NJ Medicaid
Other Questions Your May Want to
Ask
- What are the agency's charges
and financial procedures. Don't be afraid to call a few agencies to "comparison
shop"
- Does the agency have a brochure
or other information they can send to you for review
- Is help available from the agency to evaluate your care
needs and customize a plan of care for you or your loved one
- If you become unhappy with any
services, how does the agency respond to your concerns
Try to Be Well-informed BEFORE your need for Home
Care is urgent.
Consumer Information is available free from:
- The NJ Board of Nursing - Call
973/ 504-6507 and ask for
"A Consumer's Guide to Homemaker-Home Health Aides"
- The Home Care Association of N.
J. - Call 609/ 275-6100 and ask for
"A Consumer's Guide: How to Choose a Home Care Agency"
- NJ EASE - (Toll Free) 877/222-3737
A Statewide Program in every county to provide help with assessing your needs
and locating the right community resources for you, as well as help to quality
for state assistance and/or Medicaid.
| about home care | about HomecareNJ
| membership info | publications
& resources | calendar of events
| legislation & regulation
| members only | home |
