Information About Home Health Care

UPDATED: This article is updated from an article that appeared on HelpingYouCare® on December 31, 2014. Happy New Year! Now is the exhilarating time for a new beginning -- the time to make New Years resolutions for the coming year! Have you tho...

The Eldercare Locator, a service of the Administration on Aging, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), has issued a list of 10 Warning Signs Your Older Family Member May Need Help in the home. "Any one of the following be...

A U.S. Federal District Court in Vermont on January 24 approved a settlement agreement reached between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and plaintiffs in a pending litigation matter, which may help all Medicare patients with chron...

November has been designated as Long-Term Care Awareness Month. As part of this observance, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services issued a release yesterday, containing useful information on long-term care for seniors and their family caregiv...

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has entered into a proposed settlement of a lawsuit in which HHS agreed to revise portions of the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual to stop the long-standing practice of denying Medicare Skilled Care...

Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced that $12.5 million in awards funded by the Affordable Care Act and the Older Americans Act will be made to local Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to help older Americ...

The U.S. centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on August 21 that it has launched a redesign of its Medicare.gov website, in order to better serve Medicare Beneficiaries and their families. The redesign, CMS said, "mak[es] conten...

"Many older adults do not successfully make the transition home well and end up returning to the hospital. In fact, one in five Medicare patients are readmitted to a hospital within 30 days after discharge," according to a new Guide on planning for Ho...

A new study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that an in-home care coordination program for people with dementia improved their quality of care, quality of life, and ability to remain in home. The study, which was presented July 18 a...

At a June 5 conference sponsored by the journal Health Affairs, in Washington D.C., experts in care for the elderly and disabled presented findings on how better coordination of care across the "Care Span" for the elderly and disabled can improve care,...

Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School has published Caregiver's Handbook: A guide to caring for the ill, elderly, disabled ... and yourself, a basic introductory handbook to some of the topics and concerns faced by family caregivers. ...

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced yesterday three new programs made possible under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (the "Affordable Care Act," which some call "Obamacare") to help Medicare and Medicaid benefici...

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on April 19 that the results of its ongoing survey of patients regarding their experiences with and ratings of Medicare-certified home health agencies, will now be available to consu...

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced Monday that it has established a new Administration on Community Living under HHS, which will be dedicated to "enhancing and improving the broad range of supports that individuals with disa...

website. "Connect with your members of Congress and make them understand your patients’ needs. Tell them how home care can cut costs and right a health care system that’s run off the tracks. A train wreck will occur if we don’t deal with the surg...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on December 20, a new demonstration program under the Affordable Care Act under which doctors and nurses will provide expanded primary care at home for Seniors on Medicare. The new ini...

Gregory Bator from GracefulAging interviews Kathy Greenlee, the Assistant Secretary of Aging, at the Chicago Aging In America Conference. She explains how America’s aging network works at the Federal level, giving money to States, which in turn give...

Caregiverlist.com offers a Nursing Home search tool combined with a "Star Rating Service" for family caregivers, which allows you to search for nursing homes by State and County, by zip code, or by name, and find a list with a comparison of nursing hom...

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a series of Classes for Family caregivers, which include eight one-hour modules of instruction on topics intended "to help participants gain an understanding of what is involved in caring for a loved one." The cl...

At a time of widely reported rising risks from widespread hospital errors and hospital-acquired infections, doctors in Italy have conducted a pilot study that showed that at least some hospital care (routine X-rays) can better be delivered to elderly p...

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced on Friday that they have launched new online tools for patients and caregivers to "empower consumers to make informed choices about their health care," as well as other initiatives to i...

Several reports recently have noted that across the nation, U.S. states are slashing Medicaid dollars for home health care services and adult day care services that help keep the elderly and disabled out of nursing homes. State lawmakers cite budget s...

Several pilot programs are being conducted by the Oregon Center for Aging & Technology to test motion sensors, skype-like video monitors, robots and other high-tech equipment, as a means of constantly monitoring the well-being of seniors in their own h...

Allen "Chip" Teel, MD, a family physician in Maine, is pioneering a new model for virtual assisted living at home. Use of technology plus a combination of paid staff and volunteers to check on seniors living in their own homes, is providing a new, low...

Over 28 million people in the United States provide care for someone age 75 or older.  A 2009 study by the National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP found that 88% of family caregivers never get a break from this full-time job. The National Respite Coa...

From MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. A comprehensive source of information on home health care, and what it includes: Personal care...

Here is an excellent introduction to the home care industry and the types of agencies, options and resources available. This 16 page booklet, part of the “Since You Care” series by MetLife in cooperation with the National Alliance for Caregivi...

From the National Association For Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), a primary industry association for the home health care industry. Provides a good introduction to the home health care industry and the types of services and resources available. Incl...

A 10 page pamphlet from the NY State Office for the Aging website, produced in connection with pbs.org/caringforyourparents, and by the WGBH Educational Foundation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Provides introductory information on t...

From Helpguide.org. Good basic information on topics such as: What is home care? Types of services available for seniors living at home, and Costs of home care. Also contains links to additional resources, including how to find home health care. ...

Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced that $12.5 million in awards funded by the Affordable Care Act and the Older Americans Act will be made to local Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to help older Americ...

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on April 19 that the results of its ongoing survey of patients regarding their experiences with and ratings of Medicare-certified home health agencies, will now be available to consu...

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced Monday that it has established a new Administration on Community Living under HHS, which will be dedicated to "enhancing and improving the broad range of supports that individuals with disa...

website. "Connect with your members of Congress and make them understand your patients’ needs. Tell them how home care can cut costs and right a health care system that’s run off the tracks. A train wreck will occur if we don’t deal with the surg...

If you're considering home care services, here are some questions to ask regarding Qualifications, Quality of care, Costs, Understanding services, and Monitor your home care services From the Mayo Clinic staff

From National Caregivers Library A checklist for hiring help on your own Tips for interviewing with the prospective home care worker A checklist for once you have hired a home care worker »View Info

July 17, 2008, From Franchising.com. Five key, common sense tips for selecting home health care-help. »View Info

It is always a good idea to get a background check on individuals you plan to hire to take care of your elderly family member. Services such as Lexis-Nexus and Intelius provide criminal background checks for a minimal fee. Intelius is much more compreh...

If the applicant consents in writing, you can retain an independent company to perform a background check. Several private companies are in the business of providing such background checks. Here is one: »View Info Please let HelpingYouCare.c...

by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The Joint Commission is a non-profit organization which evaluates (by performance based standards) and accredits over 15,000 healthcare organizations in the U.S., including hospi...

From the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. An introduction to the Home Health Care Industry, what services are provided, when is home health care appropriate, and tips for the caregiver on how to make sure that home health care is qu...

Consumer Information from the National Association For Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), a primary industry association for the home health care industry. Provides “a checklist of questions to ask [potential home health care] providers and other in...

The Joint Commission also provides a Quality Check® service, which is a search engine where you can find the Joint Commission’s evaluation of the healthcare organization you are considering. Accredited facilities are designated by the “Gold S...

Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan. Basic information about Home Health Care and the types of Home Health Care providers, including some questions you may want to ask a prospective home health care agency. »View Info

From MayoClinic.com Questions to ask about an agency’s qualifications and about the quality of care it provides, such as: Are the caregivers bonded and insured? Questions about costs such as, Is the agency approved or accepted by your HMO or sup...

Provided online by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services at medicare.gov, the official U.S. government site for people with Medicare. This tool provides you with information on how well the home health agencies in your area care for th...

From the National Family Caregiver Support Program, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Determining the Type of Care You Need: Housekeepers or Chore Workers, A Homemaker, A Home Health Aide, Certified Nurse Assistant, Or Nurses Aide ...

a 12 page booklet by MetLife in cooperation with the National Alliance for Caregiving. An excellent discussion of how to go about finding and hiring your own independent caregiver to care for your elder at home. Includes issues to consider, checklists,...

by Marsha Seff, Union Tribune, July 26, 2008, from SignOnSanDiego.com. A checklist of questions to ask health care agencies, and a separate checklist of questions to ask independent caregivers, when interviewing to hire care-help at home. »View ...

From The National Private Duty Association (NPDA), a trade association for private duty home health agencies and workers. When selecting a home care agency, here are some questions you should ask, research and consider. Also includes links to inform...

Here is a copy of information provided on the IRS.gov website on: Family Caregivers and Self-Employment Tax: "Special rules apply to workers who perform in-home services for elderly or disabled individuals (caregivers). Caregivers are typically empl...

Read more in WSJ.com about a growing trend for families to compensate adult children or relatives who serve as caregivers to elders.  This trend may be fueled by a recognition of the financial sacrifices that family caregivers often make -- freque...

Independent Contractor vs. Employee, IRS Tax Tip, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service. This page of the IRS website explains the IRS rules for determining whether workers are employees or independent contractors, and provides l...

Employer’s Supplemental Tax Guide – U.S. Internal Revenue Service Publication 15-A (2010), U.S. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service. Discusses (at pages 3 through 10) the rules governing whether a worker must be treated as an ...

Independent Contractor vs. Employee, A Fundamental Legal Challenge When Providing Home Care Services Using Independent Contractors, National Private Duty Association. A 23 page PDF document, advising Home Health Care companies on hiring aides as ind...

IRS Form SS-8: Determination of Worker Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding, U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service. Optional Form which can be submitted to the IRS by a worker or by a firm or ind...

As part of National Family Caregivers Month - November, 2013 - the National Parkinson Foundation has announced that it will offer Free Caregiving tips and resources during the entire month of November. On the NPF Facebook page, the Foundation will p...

As we all know, Independence Day, the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States.  It is a day on which we celebrate the founding and independence of our nation.  The Declaration of Independence, declaring independence from the Kingdo...

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a new website, video and other resources with tips and information on extreme heat and how to prevent heat-related deaths and illness, as temperatures rise this summer. In a rel...

The Eldercare Locator, a service of the Administration on Aging, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), has issued a list of 10 Warning Signs Your Older Family Member May Need Help in the home. "Any one of the following be...

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has recently issued a tipsheet for Alzheimer's caregivers on Coping with Agitation and Aggression. As the tipsheet points out, agitation and aggressive behavior ar...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article and video are updated from an earlier version that appeared on HelpingYouCare® October 9, 2011. They contain important health and prevention reminders which are particularly relevant as we currently face a widespread flu e...

According to the latest Seasonal Flu Surveillance (FluView) Report, issued today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "the United States is having an early flu season with most of the country now experiencing high levels of inf...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges consumers to be on guard against fraudulent products claiming to treat, prevent, or cure a wide variety of medical conditions. FDA provides information and resources on its website on Health Fraud, i...

As Hurricane Sandy was preparing to strike New Jersey and New York on October 29, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) circulated a bulletin on how to prepare for, and keep your food and water safe during, emergencies. The HHS Bu...

In a Health Alert published October 17, 2012 by Johns Hopkins, Peter Goadsby, M.D., Ph.D., a neurologist who is director of the Headache Center at the University of California at San Francisco, lists some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a h...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the following Bulletin on September 25, 2012: Scam Alert: Beware of Bogus FDA Agents "Hundreds of people who have purchased drugs over the Internet or via telephone have unwittingly exposed thems...

"Many older adults do not successfully make the transition home well and end up returning to the hospital. In fact, one in five Medicare patients are readmitted to a hospital within 30 days after discharge," according to a new Guide on planning for Ho...

As Tropical Storm Isaac approaches Florida, with Hurricane warnings in effect for much of Florida's West coast, government authorities are urging all citizens to prepare, and are focusing attention on government resources available to help you prepare ...

June has been designated "National Safety Month," an annual observance sponsored by the National Safety Council (NSC), a non-profit organization, "to increase awareness of the top causes of preventable injuries and deaths and to encourage safe behavior...

Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School has published Caregiver's Handbook: A guide to caring for the ill, elderly, disabled ... and yourself, a basic introductory handbook to some of the topics and concerns faced by family caregivers. ...

While caring for an older parent can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime, it can also be frustrating and stressful, leading to "caregiver burnout." Dr. Alicia Arbaje, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine offers some help...

Caregiving expert, Elinor Ginzler, former AARP Senior Vice President for Livable Communities addresses some questions: Who are caregivers in America today? What are the challenges of being a family caregiver? How can families prepare for the ine...

Geriatric health experts say a good place to start in assessing elderly health is weight.  A weight gain or loss is something to be addressed with a doctor (especially if the reason for the gain or loss is not known). Other elderly health considerati...

A new survey published on October 19 found that while almost eight in ten people who reported having a recent blood test claim they understood the results, in fact 48 percent did not know their cholesterol level, and 65 percent did not know their blood...

Harvard Medical School has recently issued a new HealthBeat report, published by Harvard Health Publications, with practical tips on how to measure your blood pressure at home. "Checking blood pressure at home won't cure hypertension, but it will he...

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a series of Classes for Family caregivers, which include eight one-hour modules of instruction on topics intended "to help participants gain an understanding of what is involved in caring for a loved one." The cl...

At a time of widely reported rising risks from widespread hospital errors and hospital-acquired infections, doctors in Italy have conducted a pilot study that showed that at least some hospital care (routine X-rays) can better be delivered to elderly p...

Modern Health Talk is a new online community promoting home health care technologies as a way of replacing institutional care (nursing homes & assisted living) with aging in place at home. The community includes: Website (mHealthTalk.com) wi...

Several pilot programs are being conducted by the Oregon Center for Aging & Technology to test motion sensors, skype-like video monitors, robots and other high-tech equipment, as a means of constantly monitoring the well-being of seniors in their own h...

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has launched a new section of the Medicare.gov website focused on helping caregivers. The new site, called Medicare Basics -- Eligibility and enrollment; defini...

Some tips from Medicare.gov on buying generic drugs and entering a discount prescription program. Click 10 ways to reduce your drug costs» See also the ABC Diane Sawuer News Video report on how to cut the cost of medication»

On May 4, 2011 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Ten Tips for Caregivers on How to Prevent Accidental Overdose from Over-The-Counter (OTC) liquid medications, at the same time as the Agency released guidelines to OTC drug companies, ai...

The Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies: What to Do For The Most Common Health Problems provides do-it-yourself home remedies for common ailments. Many have recommended this practical book. These home remedies recommended by the Mayo Clinic for som...

Allen "Chip" Teel, MD, a family physician in Maine, is pioneering a new model for virtual assisted living at home. Use of technology plus a combination of paid staff and volunteers to check on seniors living in their own homes, is providing a new, low...

Watch Dr. Ronan Factora from the Cleveland Clinic Discovery Health video»