Homecare

In general, the goal of home health care is to treat an illness or injury. Where possible, home health care helps you get better, regain your independence, and become as self-sufficient as possible. Home health care may also help you maintain your current condition or level of function.

What is HomeCare?

Home health care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home for an illness or injury. Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Many patients and their families also prefer remaining in the home versus institutional settings. Furthermore, studies have shown that patients recover faster in the home.

HomeCare reduces the strain caused by excessive hospital or nursing home bills during an illness or disability. HomeCare continues to grow as the demand for cost effective services in the home increases. The growth is due in part to the aging population and shortened hospitalizations. Today, services that previously required hospitalization are routinely delivered in the home.

Benefits of HomeCare

  • Delivered in the comfort of the patient’s home
  • Easier for family and friends to visit
  • Promotes healing and provides more safety from infections
  • Allows more freedom and independence
  • More affordable than inpatient care
  • Tailored to the needs of each individual patient
  • Reduces re-hospitalizations

Additional Information

HomeCare Mission
With and through coordination and cooperation of our community’s residents, the Putnam County HomeCare will undertake such activities that ensure its ability to offer a comprehensive range of quality home health services designed to assist our patient needs. These services will assist our patients in achieving and maintaining their optimal level of independence with the greatest dignity and comfort possible.
HomeCare Admission Criteria
To receive Putnam County HomeCare services you need (For Medicare and most insurance):

  • A physician’s order for a skilled need (nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy).
  • A Face-to-Face visit with the physician ordering the services.
  • You must be homebound.
    • To be homebound means:
      • You have trouble leaving your home without help (like using a cane, wheelchair, walker, or crutches; special transportation; or elp from another person) because of an illness or injury, or
      • Leaving your home isn’t recommended because of your condition, and you’re normally unable to leave your home because it’s a major effort
    • You may leave home for medical treatment or short, infrequent absences for non-medical reason, like attending religious services.  You can still get home health care if you attend adult day care.
KanTime Client Portal

KanTime client portal is a secure, online health management tool that connects Putnam County Home Health patients to portions of their electronic medical record, allowing you to see your list of medications, plan of care, orders, and visit calendar.  Your nurse should have given you your username and password upon admission to Home Health.

Click here to access the client portal.

Examples of Skilled HomeCare Services
  • Wound care for pressure sores or a surgical wound
  • Intravenous or nutrition therapy
  • Injections
  • Monitoring serious illness and unstable health status
  • Post-Surgical Care
  • Ostomy Care
  • Catheter Care
  • Cardiac Care
  • Orthopedic Care
  • Ventilator Care
  • Pediatric Care
  • Assessment & Management of Condition / Disease
  • Pain Management
  • Nutritional Support
  • Oncology
  • Patient & Caregiver Education
  • Fall Prevention Program
Examples of What HomeCare Staff Should Do
  • Check what you’re eating and drinking.
  • Check your blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and breathing.
  • Check that you’re taking your prescription and other drugs and any treatments correctly.
  • Ask if you’re having pain.
  • Check your safety in the home.
  • Teach you about your care so you can take care of yourself.
  • Coordinate your care. This means they must communicate regularly with you, your doctor, and anyone else who gives you care.
Skilled Nursing
Registered Nurses perform a variety of specialized and highly skilled nursing services. Putnam County HomeCare’s registered nurses are the case managers – they teach and advise the patient and family members, coordinate the treatment plan with the other team members and communicate with the patient’s physician and family. We are committed to providing the highest quality and most cost-effective care for each individual patient.
Home Health Aides
Certified home health aides help patients with activities of daily living under the supervision of a health professional. They may assist with bathing, dressing, exercises, meal preparation and light housekeeping. Home health aide services are only covered if the patient is receiving nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy.
Physical Therapy
Putnam County HomeCare’s licensed physical therapists provide evaluation and treatment of clients experiencing acute onsets or flare-ups of various neurological, bone or muscular disorders. Based upon a complete evaluation, our physical therapists develop treatment plans in conjunction with the client’s physician and use a variety of treatment techniques.

Our techniques include:

  • Exercise programs for strength, endurance, coordination and balance
  • Walking and transfer training
  • Instruction in body mechanics and safety
  • Wellness education

When appropriate, our physical therapists provide family or caregiver training to reinforce and enhance the benefits of treatment.

Occupational Therapy
Our licensed occupational therapists provide activities and instruction designed to increase safety and independence in daily activities as well as functional use of each client’s arms and legs.

Treatment may include:

  • Evaluation of and fitting for adaptive equipment
  • Instruction in energy conservation, work simplification and joint protection
  • Perceptual motor training
  • Intervention for psychiatric disorders
  • Adaptive training for successful completion of daily living activities

Treatment focuses on developing each client’s functional skills and is tailored to meet the specific needs of each disability.

Speech Therapy
Putnam County HomeCare’s certified speech pathologists are an integral part of the rehabilitation team, with expertise in the management of communication and swallowing disorders.
Treatment focuses on increasing each client’s communication skills and the oral-motor skills needed for safe swallowing.

Treatment is designed to improve any and all of the following:

  • Speech characteristics
  • Auditory comprehension
  • Oral expression
  • Reading comprehension
  • Written expression
  • Swallowing
  • Problem solving and memory

Need more information? Check our list of FAQ’s.

F.A.Q.'s

Follow the link for more external resources on HomeCare.

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