Home Health Care is often an option when someone is seriously ill and does not want to stay in a hospital or go to a nursing home. It is best defined as having a medical professional go to the patients home to provide the needed health care services. The actual services that are provided vary greatly dependent upon the patients condition and need. Home health care is readily available in most areas, yet as with anything, some areas are known to provide better care then others.

Home health care is an excellent choice in many different situations. The biggest and most important reason that many choose home health care for their loved one is to allow the patient to be home with their family. The patient is surrounded by family members and is usually in a familiar home setting. It is a well known fact that patients tend to heal better and faster when they are not isolated from family members and not in a sterile cold environment.

Another reason why home health care is a great option is that the care is specifically customized to the patients need. The most in depth and advanced kind of care is known as skilled nursing care. This kind of care is most often done by a registered nurse visiting the home. This particular type of care is most often physician mandated for one reason or another. The nurse visits are quick and can occur a few times per week. In some instances they can occur once or twice daily depending upon the severity of the situation. With skilled nursing care the patient also has the option to hire a private nurse or even a live in nurse of their choosing. Many insurance companies will pay for this care but on a short term basis. Once they deem the patient to be improving, the cost would then be out of pocket. Often this can be quite expensive.

Custodial care is also a kind of Home Health Care. It is the most often used type of care. This is referring to when a medical professional enters the home to help with the patients daily activities until they are well enough to do them alone. This can include but is not limited to eating, dressing, showering, toiletries, etc. This care is most often performed by a home health care aide. They are usually there on a daily basis, some stay for the day and others just perform the patients morning routine.

Since these are the basics of home health care and are often the same everywhere, what would make a Home Health Care company stand above the others? The answer is actually quite simple. It is when an agency's caregivers truly care about the patient as a person rather then just a case. The bond is with whoever they are caring for and want to see them heal even if it means losing their position. The patient senses this and does everything they can to improve and make their nurse, home health care aide, or therapist proud of them. Often in long term situations they become like a member of the family as well. It is important to realize in these situations that not only is the patients physical well being important, but their emotional well being too. More areas have to follow suit and make this a high priority as well.