The hb of a friend of mine was evaluated for home health care yesterday. He hasn't been diagnosed w/dementia of any kind, but does have some memory issues; however, heart, circulation, back and leg problems are extreme (age 78). Home health care accepted him for occupational and physical therapy at home, person to help w/bathing 3 x a week, I believe. Sounds like the usual, but I hadn't read (or don't remember) that if an individual has home health care, they cannot leave their house *at all.* He was told he could not even go out for a cup of coffee or his service would be cancelled. He has difficulty getting into a car, but could if he wanted to bad enough, I think. Anyway, is this "you may not leave the house" usual?
To qualify for home health care a person must be home bound under medicare. He/she may leave the house for medical care, religious needs, barber but must require maximum assist. If he can leave the house for a cup of coffee then it is assumed that he can go to outpatient for therapy.
If you have Medicare, home health care services are covered if you meet all the following conditions:
Your doctor must decide that you need medical care at home, and make a plan for your care at home. You must need intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, or to continue occupational therapy.
The home health agency caring for you must be approved by the Medicare program (Medicare-certified). You must be homebound, or normally unable to leave home without help. To be homebound means that leaving home takes considerable and taxing effort. You can be homebound and still leave home for medical treatment or short, infrequent absences for non-medical reasons, such as trips to a barber or church. A need for adult day care doesn't keep you from getting home health care.
Rules above by bluedaze are correct. HOWEVER, when Paul received Home Health Care and became to the point where I could get him into the car that is parked in the garage attached to the house I drove him every day or two into Mc and went through the drive through to get him and I coffee and he a sausage biscuit. We were out less than an hour. I could NOT have got him out of the car for bathroom purposes or PT services. During this little excursion he got a bit of sunshine, I got out, he looked at the scenery and "told me to slow down the car". This small walking to the car and down 2 steps aided with his therapy. By the time we got home and managed the in/out of the car and back into the house we both were exhausted for the day. So went our days.
Thank you all for the clarification. I'd assumed the ability to get out for physical therapy might apply, good to know for my future reference, too. AND, as always, I get info and things down the road I'll need to do or questions I'll need to ask. I can see a trip to MC where you don't get out of the car could be uplifting.
HA Another friend who is helping this couple since they live closer said if they go out for the MC sausage for breakfast, they'd better hope no one "tattles." And we're talking very small town; so it's likely someone they know would see them however might not tell:) Risky to lose the service.
Claude's PCP authorized Home Health care twice after he had a couple of bad falls. The first time he had both PT and OT and the second time PT. It was never mentioned that he couldn't leave the house, but doctor visits, lab visits and a trip to the barber were about the only times he did leave the house. Getting him in the car was a real hassle.
His favorite restaurant by this time was Mickey D's :-). Every time he saw the golden arch, he had to have a double cheeseburger and a senior coke LOL. Not a very nutritious meal, but by this time it really didn't matter. After going inside one time, the rest of the time was drive-thru.
The second time, it was his Home Health Nurse that realized how fast he was declining and suggested Hospice.
It was also never mentioned here that he couldn't leave the house. In fact I told the in-home people about our outings. They agreed the change in scenery we were doing could only help. Like Mary said getting him down the 2 steps safely and in and out of the car were quite a challenge and I did not want to do it more than once a day.
Remember this has to do with what Medicare will pay for. The CNAs that I've hired, I've paid for myself, which is why they only come one or two times a week. But at least I know when they're coming and they don't care if he goes out or not. When I've had the medicare-approved Visiting Nurses they assume that not only my husband but *I* am housebound, do not come for respite care, usually tell you what DAY they will come but not WHEN, and terminate as soon as six weeks later.