Advanced home care is home health care for patients who need particular assistance with complex medical needs that cannot be met by people with minimal medical training. It may be available on a full or part time basis, and care providers can live in with patients if this is necessary. Patients may need advanced home care during recovery from surgery or cancer treatment, or it may be necessary as a care option in the long term for patients with serious chronic illnesses or disabilities.
Conventional home care consists of basic assistance, including helping patients take medications, assisting with use of the toilet and other tasks, and so forth. In advanced home care, a provider like a nurse or technician can help meet nutritional needs, infuse medications, and offer respiratory therapy. This may require knowledge of medical devices as well as basic standards and practices like how to use a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube to provide nutrition.
Family members may be able to provide some advanced home care, but they need respite assistance so they can take breaks. Friends may not be capable of offering this because of the additional training needed, and an advanced home care provider can fill the gap. This can also be an option for patients who do not want to rely on family or do not have any family members available to assist with care needs.
Government benefits may pay for advanced home care services, depending on the nature of the situation and the patient's economic class. Private insurance is also available, as is assistance through charitable organizations, particularly those promoting respite care for parents of critically ill children. Paying out of pocket is another method for funding care, and some companies may offer discounts and promotions for cash customers.
When the need for advanced home care arises, it is important to interview several care providers to find a good fit. In addition to asking for information about training, qualifications, and liability insurance coverage, the patient should also see if she thinks she will be able to work well with a given nurse or technician. Many home care tasks are very intimate, and this can be uncomfortable for patients if they do not like being around their care providers. Patients using a service should determine if it is possible to request the same person on a regular basis, or to rotate through a series of known care providers.