Patient Advocacy Patient Advocate The Patient Advocate’s Handbook Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Before Leaving The Hospital:
Arranging Visiting Nurses And Therapists

If Medicare considers your loved one as "homebound" (leaving the home requires considerable and taxing effort), it means your loved one's medical condition may require special arrangements, for example a private ambulance service, to see a nurse or physical therapist. In this case, Medicare may cover nurses and physical, speech and occupational therapists to visit the residence.

This chapter explains the specific Medicare benefit covering nurse and therapist visits, how to qualify for the benefit, what visiting nurses do at the residence, how long and how often they visit and what is needed to have them continue to visit. How to arrange for regular recurring and extra visits is also discussed.

Visiting nurses are helpful in making sure your loved one receives the best care at home. They can reinforce some of the home care training you received at the hospital and they will give opinions about your loved one's current condition. These assessments will help the doctor maintain your loved one's health and promote improvement.

There are ideas to help your loved one recover strength at home. Examples of easy to use physical therapy equipment are provided, the use of which you can discuss with the therapist. Therapists can also help you plan and give appropriate exercise between the visits. Speech therapy, occupational therapy and other visiting services covered under the same benefit are explained.