Home health care professionals provide supportive services to many families in Oklahoma City. These services include assistance with activities such as daily living, nursing care, and therapy. The goal is to help clients stay happy, healthy, and safe in their homes.
The presence of home health care has been constant and continues to mature and evolve, meanwhile changing the opportunities and challenges that the industry faces.
Let’s look at some challenges for Oklahoma City home health care agencies.
Increased Reliance
A recent study by AARP showed that nearly 90 percent of individuals who are over the age of 55 plan to stay in their homes. However, it is thought that approximately 20 percent will eventually be forced to transfer to assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
This still leaves up to 70 percent that accounts for nearly 35 million people, who will remain at home and be reliant on the services provided by home health care.
Changes in Client Needs
As the ability and desire of many aging individuals to remain home has grown, the particular needs these home care clients have increased significantly.
This is due to the following factors:
- Modern medicine has greatly extended the average lifespan in the United States.
- Home care clients are living with one or more chronic illnesses which pose a greater need for ongoing health and supportive services.
- An overwhelming number of home care clients do not require the specialized level of care that a hospital or nursing home provide. Home care is now playing a critical role in the delivery of this type of care.
- New changes in the health care system have driven changes in the needs of home care patients. Patients are now being discharged from the hospital sooner, which requires more intensive rehabilitative care in the client’s home.
- Patients are being sent back with higher acuity levels, and complicated and intensive home health needs in their home setting. This presents new challenges to health care professionals who are trying to meet those needs.
Increasing Demand for Home Health Professionals
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, it is projected that home health care will continue to remain one of the fasted growing industries. This poses a concern for some home health aides related to the limited compensation that is available to them.
Therefore, due to the financial limitations of this career, home health jobs are not an attractive opportunity for qualified professionals in demand. Staffing agencies also deal with complex billing as a result of Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates.
Bottom Line
With the overwhelming growth of clients seeking home health care services along with the monetary restraints associated with home health organizations, it is likely these challenges in Oklahoma City will continue to evolve.
What are some other challenges that you feel home health care organizations will continue to face? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments box below.
And if you lead or manage home health care agency in Oklahoma City, and are looking to find new growth strategies, maintain HIPPA compliance, and better utilize technology, be sure to download your Information Technology Guide for Oklahoma City Home Health Care Organizations.
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