will be useful. It is available for $1.25. To get this pamphlet you can write or call:
National Association for Home Care
519 'C' Street N.E.
Stanton Park, Washington, D.C.
20002 1-202-547-7424
"Caring for the Patient with Cancer at Home" deals with home care in general. To get this pamphlet call your local American Cancer Society Unit, or 1-800-ACS-2345.
Payment for home health care may be covered by Medicare, Medical Assistance, private insurance, or other payment sources if you are confined to your home and the care you need is:
Other sources of payment for a home service include:
If you want home health care and your doctor has not suggested it, discuss it with him or her. Home health care must be prescribed by your doctor to be covered by a payment program.
If you are getting home health care and want the services of a home health aide, discuss your needs with your nurse, social worker, or rehabilitation therapist. Medicare and state programs often pay for this service, but insurance and other private groups often do not.
Only if you are getting skilled nursing care, physical therapy, or speech therapy will Medicare pay for:
If you are not pleased with the service you are getting or the people giving the service, contact your home health agency. Speak with the head of patient services or the person who is in charge of those workers coming to your home.
Home care is not right for all patients. Sometimes the type of care you need cannot be given in the home.
Helping someone take a bath or cook a meal is not skilled nursing. If your only need is bathing or other personal care assistance, you may find the services of a homemaker helpful. A homemaker can assist you with self-care during one or two visits a week, spending one to two hours each visit. A homemaker service is offered by your area agency on aging to people who are at least 60 years old who meet special guidelines. If you need this service, contact your local agency office. A case worker from this office will visit you in your home to assess your needs. He or she will decide if you meet the guidelines. This service is available free or for a small fee. There may be a waiting list for this service. You may need a private homemaker service if:
This Fact Sheet is adapted from the book, Helping People Cope: A Guide for Families Facing Cancer, written by Joan F. Hermann, ACSW, Sandra L. Wojtkowiak, RN, MSN, Peter S. Houts, Ph.D., and S. Benham Kahn, MD, and supported by the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Program of the Pennsylvania Department of Health; 1990 Revised Edition.
c 1993, American Cancer Society
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