- by Gabe Taylor
Home health care is a service for people requiring continuing medical care, which allows them to remain in their home, rather than in a hospital, nursing home, or other medical facility. For people requiring this level of care, the ability to stay in their own home can greatly improve their quality of life and reduce the exorbitant cost associated with hospitalization. The Independence Center Home Health Agency is Medicare/Medicaid certified, which means we are held to standards that are overseen by the Colorado Department of Public Health.
Generally, in-home health care is provided by licensed professionals who are educated and trained in techniques that enable them to work with patients. In the home health field, there are various certified professionals who are hired to take care of the patients, but in general, most are registered nurses (RN’s), licensed practical nurses (LPN’s), and certified nurse aides (CNA’s). Here at The Independence Center, we have all of the above in our home health department, but a high proportion of our home health care staff are PCA’s.
In fact, our need to maintain a staff of CNA’s trained specifically in how to work with people with disabilities, led us to purchase a CNA Training Program of our own a few years back. Today, The Independence Center CNA Training Program provides class instruction and preparation for the Colorado State Board of Nursing’s Nurse Aide Certification test. Upon completion, students officially become CNA’s, and often end up working for The Independence Center.
But back on the topic of home health; when working with a patient who requires in-home healthcare services, a professional will often perform tasks such as bathing, dressing, transferring, feeding, and taking vital signs for their patients. These are simple tasks that most of us see as routine, but for people with disabilities trying to remain independent in their homes, the assistance provided by a caregiver can mean the difference between staying at home and living in a nursing home.
The Independence Center’s Home Health department provides in-home healthcare services to patients qualifying for the following Medicaid waivers:
- Elderly, Blind, or Disabled Waiver (EBD)
- Supported Living Services Waiver (SLS)
- Children’s Home and Community-Based Services Waiver (CHCBS)
- Children’s Extensive Support Waiver (CES)
To learn more about The Independence Center’s Home Health department, visit our Home Health webpage, or give us a call at 719-471-8181, ext. 130.