When your patients elect to receive home health for chronic disease management, they receive personalized, patient-centered focused care in the comfort of their home. This approach supports active patient engagement and promotes independence with self-care activities necessary to achieve disease stabilization, leading to improved quality of life.
Understanding chronic illness
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, and although they progress slowly, they’re usually of long duration and a result of genetics, environment or poor lifestyle. These conditions are especially difficult to deal with because there are often no solutions, leaving patients learning to cope with the disease instead of finding a permanent solution. Examples of prevalent chronic diseases in the United States include:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism
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Every patient will have a different experience with their chronic illness, and it can often change over time; however, there are shared characteristics among those who are chronically ill.
- Treatment and lifestyle changes can help improve the symptoms of chronic illness, but there is no cure.
- Chronic illness typically means chronic pain or discomfort which may not be visible to others, often being classified as “invisible” or “masked”.
- Many patients may experience fatigue, needing to limit activity with a significant impact on quality of life.
- As many as one-third of individuals with chronic illness have been diagnosed with depression.
- Since there is no cure, the illness may lead to disability or an inability to complete daily activities.
How to help patients cope with chronic illness
Chronic illnesses affect not just individual well-being, but families, workplaces and communities, creating a need for more accessible care for your patients. It’s normal for patients to feel a range of emotions when diagnosed with a chronic illness, they may even feel stages of grief, but it is possible to manage these emotions and get back to living a fulfilling life.
Emotional and physical challenges
The burden of managing a long-term health condition can be overwhelming, leading to feelings of despair, hopelessness and distress, taking a toll on one’s emotional health. The correlation between chronic conditions and emotional well-being creates a challenging cycle, where physical symptoms bleed into the development and worsening of depression or anxiety.
When receiving care at home, individuals are near loved ones, which alleviates feelings of isolation and loneliness often felt by those with a chronic illness. Addressing these emotional challenges early in the diagnosis can prevent the escalation of other mental health issues and even physical challenges.
Physical activity and exercise can increase quality of life when included as part of the management plan for chronic diseases. Such improvements can be seen in improved functional capacity and muscular strength, reduced inflammation, increased HDL-cholesterol and weight loss. Here are some ways exercise and our physical therapy team can help various chronic conditions and build a care plan for your patients:
- Arthritis: exercise can ease pain, build muscle strength around joints and lessen joint stiffness.
- Asthma: exercise can help control how often asthma attacks happen and how bad they are.
- Back pain: core-strengthening can help ease symptoms by making muscles around the spine stronger.
- Depression and anxiety: regular exercise helps improve both these conditions.
- Diabetes: exercise can help lower blood sugar levels, control weight and boost energy.
- Heart disease: regular exercise helps the heart and lowers the risk of heart disease worsening.
- Osteoporosis: exercises such as walking and lifting weights help build strong bones and slow bone loss.
This further suggests the need for home health care bridging the gap between clinical needs and emotional support, developing physical recovery and emotional stability.
How home health benefits your chronic disease patients
Home health has the power to transform patient healing when dealing with a chronic disease by providing personalized care and supportive services in the patient’s home. Not only does this enhance the effectiveness of treatment but improves quality of life bringing back empowerment in their day-to-day life.
Receiving care at home can reduce patient stress, improve confidence around treatment options and create comfort in one’s familiar surroundings. Other benefits include:
- Family involvement: receiving care at home encourages a deeper connection with loved ones, creating an empowering and supportive network.
- Flexible scheduling: home health works around patient’s preferred times to ensure daily routines do not become disrupted.
- Tailored treatment: care plans are customized to fit the needs of the patient and their chronic condition.
- Familiar environment: There is a sense of peace and comfort when you are in your own space and familiar surroundings. For those with cognitive disorders like dementia, receiving care in a familiar place is crucial.
We offer a wide range of services that can benefit your patients dealing with a chronic condition. Their tailored care plan helps them maintain a sense of independence and benefit from professional support, while reducing the burden on caregivers by providing the necessary education and assistance.
Skilled nursing
Our physical, occupational and speech therapy programs can provide relief in several areas affected by chronic illness.
- Physical therapy is a type of care designed to relieve pain and improve patients’ ability to move and function easier.
- Speech therapy involves assessing and treating swallowing issues, communication, language and speech disorders.
- Occupational therapy helps patients do the things they need and want to do, so they can recover and live as independently for as long as possible.
Physical, speech or occupational therapy
Our physical, occupational and speech therapy programs can provide relief in several areas affected by chronic illness.
- Physical therapy is a type of care designed to relieve pain and improve patients’ ability to move and function easier.
- Speech therapy involves assessing and treating swallowing issues, communication, language and speech disorders.
- Occupational therapy helps patients do the things they need and want to do, so they can recover and live as independently for as long as possible.
Medical social worker
Medical social workers are skilled professionals offering emotional support, advocacy and resources to patients suffering from chronic diseases. They also help alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety or mental health issues that impact their ability to manage a chronic illness.
Amedisys patient empowerment programs
Our empowerment programs are built on the Chronic Care Model and the WISE Self-Care Model, focusing on proactive care, patient empowerment, and evidence-based, interdisciplinary care. Patients learn to monitor early warning signs and act when needed; build self-care skills and healthy habits; improve symptom control and quality of life; and achieve independence in managing their condition.
We have developed several empowerment programs, to meet each patient's needs and the right support team to make living with a chronic disease easier. Our programs include:
- Heart Failure: Our goal is to reduce heart failure symptoms, improve quality of life and reduce patient hospital readmissions.
- COPD: Patients will get the education, support and tools they need to manage COPD symptoms at home.
- Fall Reduction: We provide expert healthcare where most elderly falls happen – in the home.
- Home health diabetes: Our diabetes program can include skilled nursing, therapy, home health aides and other services to help patients manage diabetes in the comfort of their home.
Empowering a patient is all about giving them the tools, knowledge, and confidence they need to take charge of their health. Chronic diseases impact daily life significantly and they are costly in every way. When patients are empowered, we see amazing results:
- Better clinical stability.
- Fewer hospital visits.
- Greater independence.
- Improved quality of life.
Managing a chronic disease is a collaborative effort between caregivers and home health professionals who play diverse, yet interconnected roles. When chronic disease patients receive home health, their loved ones or caregivers assist with daily living activities, medication management, monitor symptoms and overall condition, while providing emotional support which is vital in not only improving mental health but treatment tolerance.
Curious to further see how Amedisys can make a difference in the lives of your patients? Get in touch with us today and refer your eligible home health patients.
Carolyn Hartsfield, MBA, RN, serves as Assistant Vice President of Nursing Strategy Innovation Programs at Amedisys. With 30 years of nursing experience, including 28 years in the home health industry, Carolyn brings a wealth of expertise to the field. She is passionate about improving home health services and dedicated to making a lasting impact in the industry.
