The Growing Importance of Home Health
There's an increased demand for home health nurses. Read on to learn about the benefits of being a traveling home health nurse.
Author | Stephanie Goraczkowski
Here’s all the good stuff about home health...
Intro
Home Health is on the rise.
Home health care is on the rise. This unique division of healthcare allows adults who are managing chronic or acute health conditions, or those who are recovering from injuries to be where they feel most comfortable while dealing with their precarious health conditions – in their home environment. Personalized care at home is a growing sector of healthcare that benefits the patient, their family, and the healthcare professionals who serve them. We’re helping you discover and understand the growing need for home health with insights like:
- The increased demand for personalized care
- The benefits of home health care
- Why work as a home health nurse
Part 1
The increased demand for personal care.
The aging senior citizen demographic in the U.S. will reach 16.9 percent of the population in 2020 and is expected to rise exponentially with predictions of reaching 20.6 percent by 2030. By 2060, the number 65+ adults will nearly double from 49 to 95 million, meaning that ¼ of the U.S. population will be 65+ years old by 2060. It’s estimated around 52 percent of people 65 years and older will need some type of long term care services in their lifetime. And many of them wish to remain in their homes if it’s an option.
Want to get an idea of what home health travel jobs are out there? Take a gander at some Fusion jobs.
Part 2
Home health tech innovations means more independence
Innovations in technology are helping seniors stay more independent longer, helping lower the costs of home health through new innovations, and keeping them safe throughout the process. Video conferencing and telehealth are the most widely known and growing avenue of home health technology. Video conferencing can be utilized to support caregivers (family members and friends) through virtual visits and problem-solving therapy from healthcare professionals.
More recent home health technology innovations:
• Mobile tech combines with AI to help guide patients through at-home treatments
• Barcode scanner technology that verifies the accuracy of medications administered
• AI for Alzheimer’s patients that detects difficulties in daily tasks, reacting to emotional cues from the patient
• Evaluation and monitoring of Parkinson’s patients through a “tremor spoon” tool
Part 3
Why home health is successful
Besides the overarching perk of remaining at home for patient care, including:
More independence for patients
Some patients have a hard time admitting when they’re struggling with their health because they value their independence more than anything. One of the touchstones to independence is to the ability to maintain their residence, regardless of their healthcare requirements and needs. Home health helps patients continue with their routine daily lives and tasks—things like getting dressed, walking, and preparing meals. Home health patients get the freedom to live in their homes longer with this type of medical assistance.
Familiarity = Safety
According to recent research, senior adults recover faster and with lower complications when they are able to recover at home, rather than in a hospital. Home health care patients can receive help managing medications and treatments lowering the chance for risky drug interactions and avoiding additional and unnecessary trips to the hospital. Being in a familiar environment of their home helps patients continue with their routines and adds a sense of comfort and normalcy to their recovery.
Cost effective healthcare
Home health care helps by providing regular monitoring and education, as well as access to a professional, ultimately saving patients time and money by avoiding costly trips to the hospital. Additionally, home health services can postpone the need for moving out of the home and into a nursing home or specialty care facility. The costs of home health care are covered by Medicare, Medicare Advantage payors and private insurance for qualified patients making the service more accessible and available to the growing demand and aging population.
Caregiver assistance
Family members want to help ailing loved ones, and in some cases, feel like it is their duty to do so. Unfortunately, caregiver burnout is a large issue. In fact, 40 percent of caregivers are in high-burden situations, based on the Level of Care Index. Burden of care increases with hours of care provided. In cases of caregivers providing 21 or more hours of care per week, 92% are high burden. Home health nurses can assist with routine tasks, helping relieve some of the daily stress placed on family caregivers and can provide support by educating the family on best practices and resources on how to provide follow-up care improving the experience for both the patient and caregivers.
Part 4
Make the most of your traveling Home Health career
Get a unique experience
Home health nurses have the unique experience of a personal look at their patient’s home life. As a home health nurse, you are trusted to work within their most intimate environment and witness their daily lifestyle making it easier to develop a personal relationship with your patient. Getting to know a patient and their family members allows a home health nurse to provide a more specialized perspective of care, working 1:1 with each patient which in turn can lead to job satisfaction, feeling fulfilled and happier as a healthcare traveler.
It’s a growing industry
Home health nursing is a rising healthcare specialty. The home healthcare industry has an expected 36 percent employment growth rate by the year 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This will add nearly 1 million jobs to the healthcare industry. In a 2019 Home Health Agency Study, 73 percent of responding organizations stated they will either expand or start initially offering specialized care. Based on this study, specific care specialties with the greatest rate of expansion are palliative care, veteran-specific care, and mental health services.
Conclusion
Become a home health travel nurse
It takes a kind, trustworthy and patient-focused person to become an amazing home health travel nurse. Are you ready to start your career? Learn more about becoming a home health travel nurse with Fusion, or check out our current home health travel jobs.
