OVERVIEW
What is home healthcare?
Before modern medicine, caring for someone medically in the home was quite common, and hospitalization was rare. Today, with a growing trend toward reduced hospital stays, home healthcare is gaining in popularity. While caregivers of the past were generally family members or friends, home healthcare today usually consists of a professional healthcare team working toward a common goal.
Today home healthcare may be considered for patients who are:
Recovering from an illness
Undergoing treatment
Disabled
Chronically ill
Terminally ill
Home healthcare is not a choice for everyone. Generally, the patient receiving care or treatment at home must be well enough to be cared for in the home setting.
