From our Keeping In Touch Newsletter — September 2014
The Visiting Nurse Associations (VNAs) sends nurses and other health care professionals to help “home-bound” seniors with medical care. A senior is considered “home-bound” if he or she is unable to leave home without considerable and taxing effort.
The VNA is a valuable community resource for teaching about medical self-care, monitoring new medical conditions, observation and therapy. In most cases, Medicare covers VNA visits.
Our senior population could be eligible for VNA visits by a RN or other healthcare professional, such as an occupational therapist or a physical therapist, if any one of the following conditions exists:
- The individual has just returned home from the hospital or rehab center;
- A new diagnosis has been made;
- The existence of chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, cardiac conditions, high blood pressure);
- Skin conditions such as pressure sores or bed sores, or even redness on a pressure point which could indicate the beginning stages of a bedsore;
- Multiple medications or new medications have been prescribed;
- Wounds, tubes, drains and special treatments that require care;
- Depression, anxiety or sudden changes in cognitive state;
- Evaluation of need for rehabilitation services in the home (such as physical therapy);
- Mobility issues and/or the need for assistive device such as a walker or cane;
- A home safety evaluation based on any new medical conditions or weakening abilities.
Under some conditions, such as a hospitalization, your physician or hospital discharge planner should make the referral for VNA home care services for you. But if you think you need help from the VNA, you can call them directly. Just make sure they contact your primary doctor to get the required referral so Medicare can cover the cost.
These services do not take the place of non-medical Caregiver services such as the referral services provided by Human Touch Home Care, LTD., but are often provided in collaboration with us.