Chapter 5

            As the text describes, home health care includes the care of an individual through nursing, physical, speech, and occupational therapy, along with services such as house maker, chores, personal care services, and someone that provides aid in daily living. This is not a new concept. Originally health care was provided in the home. The family would take care of the ill person with occasional home visits from the doctor. In the 1800s, nursing organizations began providing formal home health care to patients so someone other than family or friends could take care of the person. This started what we now call home health care. There are many pros and cons to home health care. Being able to stay in the home and feeling less hospitalized is the biggest pro of home health care. Most patients are far more comfortable in their own home, and often don't feel as sickly, as they would if they were in a nursing home or hospital. Another pro is the fact that family and friends can visit any time. I personally feel being surrounded by loved ones is the best therapy for someone who is ill. Privacy is also a pro of home care. Although there are a lot of pros, there are also several cons that must be looked at when thinking of home health care for a loved one. Home health care can be very costly. A person usually has to transform their house into a hospital like setting. Usually machines need to be hooked up, and a hospital type bed where the person can be monitored and safely cared for. Something else to think about is the limited hours health care professionals are available. It isn’t like a hospital where a nurse or even a doctor is on duty 24/7. The family and friends helping out must be fully prepared for this, and be willing to learn all the necessities required to care for the individual.  

            Social workers are usually aware of home health situations, and usually oversee the situation. They are there to help the caretakers learn how to properly care for an individual, and help them deal with such situations. They also are there to make sure the ill person is being properly taken care, and not neglected or abused. This is terrible to think about, especially after seeing family members taken care of at their home until their death, but abuse and neglecting of the elderly and sickly do occur. Just like the book stated, many people get tired and worn out quickly and start to neglect their responsibilities they have agreed to take on. Social work is very important in these situations because the patient needs someone to advocate for them. This was very interesting to read about, and I hope social workers keep on working with home health care facilities and help to make sure everyone is given the care they deserve, in or out of their home.

Fort Cowles, L. A. (2003). Social Work in the Health Field: A Care Perspective. Birmingham, NY: The Hawthorn Press