What is Adult Day Care?

Adult Day Care is designed to help you if your loved one needs supervision or would benefit from a social setting and you would like them to live with you but need to work each day or just need a break from continual care. Some centers offer services during evenings and on weekends, but they all offer services during the traditional business day. Adult Day Care facilities may be associated with other healthcare providers (such as hospitals, assisted living facilities, home health care agencies). Services can range from social only to social and medical. Some specialize in dealing with memory loss.

Adult Day Care providers must be certified in Ohio. Lear more about what these centers provide and the recommended standards at The National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) website, nadsa.org. Medicare generally does not cover most Adult Day Care services. Contact Medicare for further guidelines or Medicaid (if your loved one qualifies). Long-term care insurance policies vary in covered services, so check your policy applies.

What is Home Health Care?

Home health care can be medical or non-medical. It provides assistance while allowing you to remain in your home. Examples of medical services provided might include wound care or physical therapy. Non-medical assistance includes such things as laundry, shopping, cooking, and cleaning.

Home health companies are not required to be licensed by the state of Ohio. If they are certified to participate in Medicare, they must offer specific services, such as skilled nursing. Medicare and Medicaid have specific guidelines for covered services. To learn more about these, go to http://www.medicare.gov or http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/ (Ohio Medicaid). If you have long-term care insurance, you should investigate the home health services covered by your policy.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice offers a wide range of medical and support services provided within a home, hospital, nursing home, or hospice facility. Hospice provides care and comfort (not a cure) for terminally ill patients (life expectancy of six months or less). Hospice also provides counseling for patients and families. Hospice providers are licensed by the Ohio Department of Health. As with home health care, guidelines and covered services vary with Medicare and Medicaid. Long-term care insurance, if applicable, may cover some services.

What is Respite Care?

Respite care is a brief stay in a nursing home or hospice facility if you require round-the-clock care. The brief stay is intended to provide a rest or “respite” for a patient’s usual caregiver (frequently a spouse or other family member). Not all nursing homes or hospice facilities provide this service. Visit Medicare or Medicaid for details on what services are covered.

What to know when choosing a Physical Therapy Clinic?

Physical therapy is a non-invasive treatment approach for neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions. Physical therapy combines exercise, modalities, manual therapy and education. According to the U.S. Patient’s Bill of Rights, you have the right to choose health care providers who can give you high-quality health care when you need it. You have no obligation to receive physical therapy at any specific facility.

Things you should look for when choosing a Physical Therapy Clinic

Expertise: A therapist who has extensive experience rehabilitating a condition like yours
Reputation: A facility that has a great reputation in the community
Attentive therapist: A therapist who takes the time to listen to you and address your specific needs