hiring a home health care worker after a stroke

Unfortunately, there may be a time in a person's life where they find themselves unable to leave their home. When a person is homebound, it becomes difficult for them to get the care they need. Thankfully, home health care agencies provide many services for homebound patients. Insurance won't cover homebound patient care for just anyone, however. There are only certain instances when this type of home health care is covered.

Here are three instances when insurance usually covers homebound patient care.

1. The Patient Has End-Stage Dementia

Dementia is a group of conditions that affects memory loss and judgment. Common symptoms associated with dementia include:

• Difficulty recalling recent events
• Increase in confusion
• Changes in behavior or personality
• Difficulty problem-solving
• Inability to concentrate

In its latest stages, dementia prevents patients from doing everyday tasks, and they are no longer able to look after themselves. When left unattended, many people with end-stage dementia also wander from home. For these reasons, insurance usually covers homebound patient care for those with end-stage dementia.

2. The Patient Is Recovering From Recent Surgery

When a patient is discharged from the hospital following surgery, they finish their recovery at home. For some patients, recovering at home causes them to become homebound as they might still have pain or fatigue following surgery. In some cases, homebound patients who recover at home may not have the help they need.

Homebound patients with the following issues may be eligible for homebound patient care:

• They experience pain when they move around or walk.
• They have very poor balance or weakness.
• They experience shortness of breath when they try to leave home.
• They are at high risk for injury if they fall.

Because patients that are recovering from surgery with the above issues put their health and safety at risk every time they leave home, insurance will usually cover their homebound patient care.

3. The Patient Has a Surgical Wound That Fails to Heal

When a patient has surgery, they are at risk of infection. Sometimes, an infection can prevent the incision from healing properly. When a wound doesn't heal, it can become very painful. For many patients, pain management requires prescription pain medications.

These medications can have serious side effects, which might include dizziness and drowsiness, both of which can increase the patient's chances of problems with balance and falling. For these reasons, when a patient's safety is affected due to a surgical wound that fails to heal, they are usually eligible for homebound patient care.