| In home health care can help cancer patients stay | | | | necessary when the person has advanced medical |
| in the comfort of their own home while they | | | | needs. Research agencies in your area to find the |
| receive care. The home offers an atmosphere of | | | | one that best fits your needs. Most agencies |
| comfort and security. While hospital stays can | | | | provide home health care aides that can assist |
| contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness, | | | | with personal care, meal preparation, homemaking, |
| staying at home allows patients to stay | | | | and general health management. Services may |
| connected with family and friends. It has both | | | | also include visits by nurses or social workers and |
| advantages and disadvantages to the patient and | | | | access to medical equipment. |
| caregivers. Sometimes, in-home care can create | | | | It may also be helpful to hire independent home |
| new challenges for those involved. It may also | | | | health care providers, rather than an agency. For |
| bring about changes to relationships or require | | | | people paying out of pocket, using independent |
| family members cope with aspects of patient | | | | home health care providers is usually less |
| care they would not have seen otherwise. It is | | | | expensive than hiring an agency. However, you |
| important that patients and caregivers prepare | | | | will have to coordinate payment and scheduling |
| for these obstacles. | | | | yourself. |
| Care services within the home may be | | | | There are many public and private sources that |
| administered by doctors, nurses, home health | | | | help patients pay for home care. It may be helpful |
| aides, or even family members. If you are | | | | to look into benefits provided the government, |
| considering this type of care, you should ask your | | | | like Medicare or Medicaid. Some private health or |
| doctor about the patient's specific needs and if | | | | long-term care insurance policies cover the costs |
| they can be met by home care. Get information | | | | of certain home care services. Other |
| about the types of home care services the | | | | organizations, like the American Cancer Society, |
| patient will require and discuss these with the | | | | offer free services to cancer patients and their |
| people who will be administering care. | | | | families. |
| Use of a home health care agency is usually | | | | |