More than 11 million Americans receive home delivered health care from home health care providers. In their honor, Hospital Home Health & Hospice joins the National Association for Home Care and Hospice in celebrating November as National Home Care Month under the theme “Preserving Health Independence and Freedom”

“Caring for the sick, elderly and dying in their homes truly is a privilege for us,” said Jean Silfies, Administrator of Hospital Home Health and Hospice. “Home care professionals, volunteers and modern medicine make it possible for people to stay in thier homes, regardless of their condition.”

Hospital Home Health and Hospice celebrated National Home Care Month by hosting a bar-b-que luncheon at the agency, where County Mayor Peggy Bevels issued a National Home Care Month proclamation.

Through technological advance, home delivered health care has grown far beyond basic professionals nursing and home care aide service. Today’s modern home care agency offers a wealth of nursing, physical, occupational, respiratory and speech therapies, counseling, dietary laboratory, dental, optical, pharmacy, podiatry, x-ray, medical equipment and home medical supplies, and personal care.

Home care services are paid for by public and private sources, or directed by patients and their families. Third-party payers include commercial insurances, managed care org, CHAMPUS, and workers’ compensation. Medicare and state-run Medicaid are significant payers, often driving the payment agenda for commercial insurance. Despite massive cutbacks in government funding, home care continues to be the preferred means of receiving quality health care services for millions of Americans.

In 1982 Hospital Home Health was founded to provide comprehensive in-home health and supportive services for Lincoln and surrounding counties. In 1992 Hospice was added as a service to the terminally ill.