Healing from surgery and other conditions can be a long process, which is where Knox Community Hospital’s Home Health Department plays a role.
Mary Knutty, a licensed physical therapist assistant at KCH Home Health, said doctors often refer clients for home health care after they’ve been hospitalized, or spent time in a nursing or rehab facility, and would benefit from continued treatment at home.
“We offer nursing, therapies, home care aides and even social work services to link clients to community resources,” she said.
A primary goal of home health is to assist clients with their health-care needs, with the goal of achieving the safest possible level of independence in their own homes, sometimes beyond where they were before they were hospitalized.
“Nursing can assist with tube feedings, IV infusions, medication monitoring, wound care and disease management such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis … any condition that requires care in the home,” Knutty said.
In-home care is not reserved solely for the elderly, Knutty said. Help is sometimes needed for those with traumatic injuries. In fact, some clients have required home care during recovery from COVID-19, a virus that affects old and young alike.
“We are in direct contact with our clients’ physicians,” Knutty said. “If we observe anything out of the ordinary, or if a client reports anything unusual to us, we act as the liaison between them and their physician. This connection often reduces or eliminates the need for rehospitalization.”
Since insurance covers a specified number of home health visits, educating the client’s family or other caregivers on how to continue care is important.
“Education is essential to ensure that the client maintains a healthy lifestyle even after home health care ends,” she said.
Home health therapies also assist clients with fall prevention and balance training through exercises and instruction on how to use assistive devices such as canes or walkers. Altering the home environment to increase safety, ensuring medication compliance and utilizing adaptive equipment are just a few examples of what is addressed.
“So that's why it's important for us to be there to supervise and to offer hands-on assistance as needed,” Knutty said. “Balance is improved by challenging it, so to prevent falls, it’s important that we are there to instruct and educate. And we certainly don’t want any falls to happen when we're not there.”
Knutty said that since treatments take place in their homes, home health is generally welcomed by clients. When care is required for an extended period, Knutty said, relationships are developed with clients and their families.
“We typically see them one to three times per week,” she said, “so after multiple weeks of visits, you really do get to know them quite well.
“It’s a nice one-on-one relationship, and many of our home health employees live in the community, so we are essentially building positive relationships with our neighbors,” Knutty said.
Call 740-399-3748 for more information.
