A question about home health care assistance...
 

I have a friend who will be released shortly from the hospital and she will need someone to help provide home health care as well as wound care. Any recommendations? I will see my friend today to find out exactly what level of care has been specified. Wound care is top of the list.

Thanks.

Pooh,

I'm not in TV, but when my dad had major surgery several years ago, the hospital arranged for a Visiting Nurse to come his home every day for about 2 weeks after he was discharged from the hospital for wound care management.

The web site for the Visiting Nurse Association of Florida is www.vnaflorida.org.

I hope that helps, and I hope your friend is feeling better soon.

Thank you Shaumburger....she is feeling much better and hopefully, her doctor will also offer a recommendation. I'll let her know about the visiting nurse. When my Mom and Dad were still living and able to still be in their home, the visiting nurse was wonderful...they loved her and so did we.

pooh - my friend met with hospital staff from the social services unit of the hospital who had her doctor's info from her chart...so along with hospital nursing staff they developed a specific discharge planning document which was then implemented by the social services folks to insure that the doctor's needs/wants were fulfilled. they even made arrangements with the villages taxi services to transport her to whatever outpatient treatments/appts she needed. they knew what her insurance would cover and what her out-of-pocket expenses would be. hope she can find that service before she is discharged.

When I needed home health care assistance, the hospital gave me the names of a home assistance company that was covered by my health insurance. They did a great job and taught me the ropes so I could do some of the treatments myself.

Ask the hospital for some recommendations.

Z

My friend has been given a list of names for assistants, however, she is not familiar with any of the people listed. She wondered if anyone had specific people they could recommend. I'm heading over to the hospital right now and will get more specific details.

Thank you all for your help. I'll be back with more info and hopefully, I'll be better able to explain exactly what she's asking for.

I had surgery at TV hospital last summer. Home-care was provided...can't remember now but think the hospital arranged it. Even had a P.T. come for an evaluation and what impressed me was he found that was the only trip he needed to have. Also someone called to see if we needed "helps" for the bathroom---seat for the shower etc. Medicare pays for that too! It was all very timely and the nurses call and set up their app'ts with the patient.

Just be sure to find out if what she gets is covered by her health insurance private or Medicare. It is not cheap!!

by all means, work with personal referrals. florida does not license home health care attendants - just the agencies they work for. i also suggest asking for a copy of any worker's certification showing they have successfully completed their training. having worked in the nj office that licensed multitudes of professionals i know how frightening it is when something pops up in an applicant's background check that we had to have prior to their licensure. it is a bloody shame that we should have to worry about the people hired to care for us - but we do - especially if they are going to be in our home!