“Navigating Healthcare for Your Aging Parent: The Overview”
Someone once said, “I never realized I was a caregiver until I started doing things for Mom that I never did before.” Many of us can relate to this sentiment. Maybe it was a formal decision, or perhaps we simply started helping when we saw a need. What do we do, though, when we don’t quite know how to best help? Adult children often face this challenge. With this in mind, Pointe Coupee Homebound Health and Hospice is providing a series of articles to inform and guide our community on local resources available to support health and wellbeing. The goal is to empower informed decision-making for adult children as they help manage their aging parents’ healthcare.
Pointe Coupee Homebound Health and Hospice offers skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and healthcare aide services as covered by insurance. While goals of home health and hospice care differ, both services offer intermittent care in the comfort of your home or assisted living. Hospice care is also offered in nursing homes and occasionally at Pointe Coupee General Hospital when inpatient hospice care is needed. Hospice care includes medical social worker, volunteer & chaplain support. Medicare and Medicaid as well as private insurance follow the same guidelines regarding qualifying for hospice care.
Hospice care is a benefit built into most insurance plans to offer support and guidance not only to the patient but entire family. A person is eligible for hospice care if the physician has certified that there is a terminal condition. Typically, this means the physician estimates a person is expected to live six months or less. The hospice team does not do anything to hurry death. They are simply a specialized team to provide symptom management for comfort, teach caregivers, and support patients and families as illness progresses.
If you or someone you know who has difficulty leaving their home for medical appointments, needs in-home therapy, has a new illness or a chronic illness requiring management, has increased weakness, recurrent falls, or new medications, ask your physician about ordering home health.
Pointe Coupee Homebound Health and Hospice is parish-owned and locally operated. Remember, it’s your choice which agency you use. If your doctor is setting you up with home health or hospice or if you are being discharged from the hospital, ask for Pointe Coupee Homebound Health & Hospice. We ask that you choose us because we are locally owned by our parish government, and we are locally operated, meaning our nurses live locally. We know our community and surrounding area’s culture because we are from here. We pride ourselves in excellent patient care and are proud to say that at Pointe Coupee Homebound Health and Hospice, we are not just your healthcare team…we’re your neighbors! Please reach out to our office if you have any questions or would like a free consultation for home health or hospice care services at 225-638-5717.
Stay tuned for our next article diving deeper into local healthcare services for your aging parents.