The five benefits of home health care

WHEN you’re unwell, being cared for in a place of comfort can make all the difference. Having choice and flexibility over where you receive treatment provides patients with comfort and convenience.

Medibank at home

WHEN you’re unwell, being cared for in a place of comfort can make all the difference.

It’s the little things that count, like your favourite cuppa tea, a lengthy chat with a loved one from the cosiness of your covers, watching your favourite TV shows or reading a book without interruptions. Having choice and flexibility over where you receive treatment provides patients with comfort and convenience, along with a strong support network while reducing levels of stress.

According to Rebecca Bell, General Manager – Member Health at Medibank, services such as Medibank at Home, help alleviate some of the stressors often associated with a health diagnosis.

“The stress of being sick can place the body under additional strain, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well,” Rebecca says. “More than two thirds (67%) of Australians who have recently travelled to and from hospital have found the experience to be a major stressor, with the majority attributing the stress to parking, public transport, distance and the associated costs.”

Alongside chemotherapy at home, Medibank at Home is also trialling at-home dialysis and palliative care services. “Continued research has given way to large technological advances in healthcare. However, despite this, the vast majority of healthcare is till delivered in a traditional, often hospital, setting. While convenient for the healthcare professionals providing the services, hospitals are often not the most convenient or preferred location to receive care for patients.  

“Through these in-home trials, we’re continuing to help shape the future of healthcare, which we believe is increasingly ‘in the home’”.

Curious about home health care? Here’s a little more information.  

Patients get a choice

Home health care allows patients to receive treatment, support and assistance while maintaining their privacy. “Our Rehabilitation at Home service and trial programs provide eligible members with a choice around where they receive their care – be it at home or in hospital – at a time when they may be feeling like they don’t have a choice over much else,” Rebecca says.

Proximity to family and friends

Gone are the days of visiting hours and restricted call times; home health care means friends and family can visit whenever they want. “Receiving care at home allows patients to stay in their own environment within close range to loved ones,” Rebecca adds. “We know this can have a positive impact on mental wellbeing.”

Cost efficiencies for patients and their support network

According to a Medibank study, 86 per cent of patients found parking to be the number one stressor when travelling to hospital, with the majority saying parking costs were “very expensive”. Additionally, more than one in ten have reported spending more than $40 on a single hospital visit, with 40 per cent admitting they’ve had to cut visits short due to parking fees.

“Through home care, the costs associated with travelling to and from hospital such as public transport, parking and petrol can be avoided,” Rebecca says. “Additionally, in some cases, the patient’s support network will need to take time off work to help facilitate their loved one’s commute to hospital, which can take a financial toll.”

Decreasing the risk of hospital readmission

Results from several research studies show that for members with specific health needs, receiving care at home can decrease the risk of hospital readmission. Research shows patients receiving in-the-home care may recover more quickly and have a lower rate of re-hospitalisation, when compared to those receiving care in hospital. Readmission rates appear to be lower due to reduced risk of infections, deconditioning - physiological change following a period of inactivity, like bed rest and other events that can slow down recovery in-hospital. “Being in the familiar home environment enables people get back to their daily activities more quickly—they make their own cup of tea rather than having this brought to them as occurs in hospital. It’s also the simple things like sleeping in your own bed. Having a good night’s sleep helps people have the energy to move around that in turn speeds up recovery,” Rebecca adds.  

Maintaining quality of life

As simple as it sounds, cosying up on your couch, eating snacks from your fridge and reading your books makes all the difference when you’re unwell.

“Access to the comforts of home, whether it’s being with the family pet or just being able to sleep in your own bed, the Medibank at Home program can help provide patients with added peace of mind and comfort during what can often be a stressful time and there often is no place like home” Rebecca says.

Medibank at Home is an umbrella program which allows eligible members with specific health needs to receive care in the comfort and convenience of their own homes. Providing greater choice and flexibility, Medibank at Home spans a range of care services, including the currently available national rehabilitation at home service, as well as chemotherapy, palliative care and dialysis at home trials. To find out more, visit Medibank