Home Health Care Services FAQs

A nurse or therapist will come to your home to evaluate you for home care. During this visit, they will:

• Complete a comprehensive assessment
• Gather your full health history
• Review your medications
• Review the services available and which ones may be beneficial to you
• Review an emergency preparedness plan
• Set up a plan of care to help you to meet your individual health goals
• Answer your questions

• Your name and date of birth to ensure proper identification on every visit
• Any updated discharge instructions or medical visit summaries from your health care providers
• All your medication bottles and your current medication list
• Your insurance card to verify your insurance, review any copays, and changes to your insurance to avoid any billing and payment delays
• A copy of your advance directive, living will, or physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) form if you have them, which will help us understand your wishes
• The name of your caregiver who will assist you with your care at home
• Names of your care partners you give permission for Virtua to share your medical information

Your caregiver helps with your care in the home and:

• Ensures your personal safety
• Acts an alternate person to contact if we are unable to reach you
• Provides wound care, drain care, or catheter care to assist you, as needed
• Assists with medications
• Assists with home exercise program, as needed

• The frequency of your home care visits by a nurse, therapist, home health aide, dietician, and social worker will be based on your individual needs and goals.

The clinician will address skills and education to manage your disease process at home and help prevent readmission to the hospital. This will include:

• Symptom management
• Education about your condition
• Instruction on safety and fall prevention
• Pain management
• Guidance on taking your medication
• Emergency preparedness
• Therapy to increase your activity, strength, and mobility

• It confirms you are the right patient receiving the right treatment
• It helps to protect your privacy and personal health information (HIPAA)
• It is a state requirement

Members of our team need to:

• Make sure there is an accurate and complete medication list in your home and there is one for you to take to your medical appointments
• Prevent potentially harmful interactions between medications
• Prevent medication errors

• To coordinate visits
• To account for visits with other medical providers
• To keep you informed and help keep track of home care visits and medical appointments

• They keep the Virtua Home Care staff informed of any changes or updates to your medications or treatments
• They help to coordinate care with your other providers

A preparedness plan:

• Helps you to prepare and be ready for emergencies
• Helps to identify where you will evacuate in an emergency and who you would stay with to help with your care
• Outlines what you should take with you in an evacuation, such as medications, medical supplies, and assistive devices

• Address the planning and development of your care and coordinate with the specialists visiting you
• Assess and instruct you on medications, disease processes, treatments, diet, wound care, activities, safety, and fall prevention

• Focus on daily activities such as bathing/dressing, using the bathroom, cooking, and laundry
• Provide recommendations for any necessary equipment to make activities safer and easier
• Use exercises and techniques for arm strengthening, better hand control, and overall improved energy
• Maximize your independence and quality of life

• Evaluate your need for and order necessary equipment (such as a walker or wheelchair)
• Strengthen your legs and improve your balance in sitting and standing
• Work with you so you get from one seat to another in your house (i.e. sofa to/from bed)
• Help you to walk indoors and outdoors (including stairs) safely so that you can leave the house for appointments, outpatient therapy, and other activities

• Treat any problems with swallowing foods, liquids, or pills
• Help with communicating with your family/friends after a stroke or other illness
• Teach you exercises to improve your vocal quality
• Teach you memory and other cognitive tasks and provide strategies to increase independence in daily activities

• Create a personalized diet plan to meet your nutritional needs

• Assist with the management of slow-to-heal or complex wounds

• Address financial assistance needs
• Provide guidance with insurance paperwork and community resources
• Provide emotional support, counseling services, and long-term planning

• Assist with your personal care such as bathing, dressing, oral care, toileting, catheter care, incontinence care, nutrition/diet, ambulation/transfers, and use of assistive devices
• Perform light housekeeping, change bed linens, and dispose of trash, as defined by your home health care plan