Signs an Aging Parent Needs Home Health Care

Talking about whether a loved one needs care at home can be one of the hardest conversations a family has. A range of services can help support families as they navigate a challenging time.

Home health care services

Medically Certified Home Care provides short-term skilled care for patients with specific medical conditions or those who need extra assistance after coming home from the hospital. This can include nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy, medical social work and a small amount of nurse’s aide assistance. These services are often covered at least in part through insurance or Medicare.

Personal or live-in care can assist people with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, cooking, eating and transportation for errands and doctor’s appointments. Some people may need assistance for a few hours a week while others may need live-in or around-the-clock care.

“Our goal is to make sure that individuals are as safe and independent in their homes as possible for as long as they want to stay in their homes,” said Andrea Iacomacci, specialty program director at Yale New Haven Health’s Health at Home.

Iacomacci says a common misconception is that if someone is receiving skilled nursing services, they don’t need personal or live-in care. However, skilled nursing services are temporary, usually only for a few weeks based on the recommendation of the patient’s clinician. Therefore, some patients may need both skilled nursing services and personal care to assist with everyday tasks.

Behavioral health services also includes individualized medication administration to help patients with mental health diagnoses stay independently in their homes and out of the hospital. The nurse administering medication also works closely with the patient’s prescribing clinician to ensure they are responding well to their medication and assess whether changes are needed.

Home hospice services provide end of life care wherever home is, whether that’s in a family home, a nursing home or assisted living facility. Services provided by nurses, social workers, spiritual care and bereavement coordinators are all offered.

Starting the home health care conversation

Falling behind on everyday tasks like laundry, cleaning or personal care like bathing can be signs a loved one needs help. However, one of the biggest roadblocks to receiving care is acknowledging the need for services. Sometimes the person who needs care at home will brush off red flags because they don’t want to bother family members, or they don’t think it’s a big deal.

“It's a conversation that's hard because sometimes families or clients can’t recognize the signs until there’s a crisis and they say, ‘Oh my gosh, my mom can’t handle this,’” said Iacomacci.

Therefore, Iacomacci recommends families start the conversation early.

“You can start by saying, ‘You may not need help inside right now. But down the road, if it becomes too much for you, there are some services that are available,’” she said. “It’s continuing to have those conversations and periodically checking in to see how things are going.”

If families need help navigating the options available for care in the home, they can call Yale New Haven Health – Health at Home at 203-458-4275.