When you are sick, where would you rather be treated? Chances are you would choose to be at home if at all possible and more than 11 million Americans agree with you. Deaconess HomeCare joins the National Association for Home Care and Hospice in celebrating November as National Home Care month.

Caring for the sick, elderly, and dying in their homes is a privilege that home care professionals take seriously. More than just providing excellent care where and when patients need and want it, home care saves the United States and commercial health insurers billions of health care dollars each year. There is no more cost effective provider of health care in our country.

When your family or friends are struggling with a disability, dealing with a chronic or terminal illness, or recovering from a recent hospital stay, home care professional caregivers have the answer. Through technological advances, home-delivered health care has grown far beyond basic professional nursing and home care aide services. Today’s modern home care agency offers a wealth of nursing physical, occupational, speech therapies, counseling, laboratory, medical equipment, home supplies and personal care. One of the most important things that home care provides is education. Educating patients and their care givers can be something as simple as how to fill a weekly medicine box all the way to something much more complicated such as wound care.

With 77 million Baby Boomers beginning to hit retirement age and seniors numbering 35 million, a significant portion of the American population either is or will soon be evaluating their options when it comes to long term care.

As the 21st century continues to unfold the fundamental domestic issue becomes obvious.

How will we provide high quality long-term care to our parents and eventually for ourselves? The answer is home care and hospice, which combines care, compassion and cost effectiveness.

Donna C. Buckles, RN, is case manager with Deaconess HomeCare.