weekly refliction # 5

The original location of most health care was the home where family, friends, and neighbors provide support and care.  This was also a place where a physician paid a visit to his/her patient.  In 1800s, voluntary, nonprofit organizations began to provide formal home care service in which a patient could get a physician, and other cares in a short time.  Before, patients had to wait for a physician to get their houses to treat them.  In some rural area, it was sometimes difficult to get a physician.  By providing formal home care service, patients had to wait for a physician only for a short time to get the treatment.  Also, patients are more facilitated with advanced technology, and skilled nurses and social workers at formal home care service center.  According to part A of Medicare, the patient who requires skilled care such as professional nursing services, physical therapy, or speech therapy, who is essentially homebound, and who is certified by a physician for that previous conditions.  For example, my father-in-law is in his last stage of Parkinson’s disease and bedridden now.  Even though his wife is trying her best to take care of him, sometimes she does not know how to do things to ease him.  For a patient with Parkinson’s, and with severe muscle stiffness, a person needs more skill to take care of his daily stuff such as taking out the clothes and putting on.  Because my father-in-law’s legs and hands are bending because of stiffness, if someone who does not know how to take off his clothes, he suffers pain.  Therefore, a skillful nurses and social workers are essential to take care of homebound patients.

Reference

Cowles, L. A. F. (Ed.). (2003). Social work in the health field: A care perspective. (2nd ed.) Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Press.