Lincoln Eldercare Resource Handbook: Home Health, Hospice & Therapies

Many Home Health Agencies provide physical, occupational and speech therapy in the home. This can sometimes be paid for through Medicare or other insurances. Please refer to the Home Health Agencies section below.

Home Health Agencies provide a range of services varying from case management or physical therapy to nurse and nurse aide levels of care. These companies are licensed by the state of Nebraska and may be covered by Medicare and/or Medicaid.

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. It is meant to enhance a person’s current care by focusing on quality of life for them and their family.

When someone enrolls in hospice, they automatically receive palliative care. But if you think you might benefit from palliative care outside of a hospice program, ask your physician or nurse practitioner for a referral. Many hospitals now offer palliative care services, and many hospices have palliative care groups that operate separately from their hospice services.

Hospice services are available to persons who no longer benefit from curative treatment and have a life expectancy of six months or less. The focus of hospice is pain and symptom control. Most hospices offer visits from nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains and volunteers. Bereavement services are offered to the friends and family members of the patient.

Associations: CaringInfo.org (800-658-8898)  |  NEHospice.org  |  HospiceFoundation.org (800-854-3402)

Many home health agencies provide support services to continue infusion therapy at home.