The goal of short-term home health care is to provide treatment for an illness or injury. It helps the patient get better, regain their independence, and become as self-sufficient as possible. The goal of long-term home health care (for chronically ill or disabled people) is to maintain their highest level of ability or health, and help them learn to live with their illness or disability.
The need for home health care has grown for many reasons. Medical science and technology have improved. Many treatments that could once be done only in a hospital can now be done at home. Also, home health care is usually less expensive and can often be just as effective as care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. And just as important, most patients and their families prefer to stay at home rather than be in a hospital or a nursing home.
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