Home Health Social Worker

Staying independent at home can be challenging when facing illness, injury or other life changes. Amedisys’ home health social workers can offer support, guidance and help you find solutions. 

Working alongside nurses, home health aides and other members of the home health team, the home health social worker is by your side to help you navigate the healthcare system and get your needs met. For patients who meet the eligibility criteria, medical social services are typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many major insurance plans. 

WHAT IS A MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER?

Medical social workers are skilled professionals who offer emotional support, advocacy and resources to patients with chronic diseases or who are recovering from surgery, illness or injury. They are problem solvers who identify issues that affect patient health and recommend solutions.  

Medical social workers are specially trained professionals who provide emotional support, connect patients with resources, and advocate for their needs during illness or recovery. They play an essential role in helping patients and families manage complex healthcare challenges. 

Medical social workers uphold a great deal of ethical responsibility considering the nature of the sensitive information at hand. There is a constant need to balance the desires and needs of patients and their families against established legal guidelines. 

Home health medical social workers typically work in patients’ homes and play a big role in fostering participation in the care process among family members and other caregivers, utilizing community resources to ensure well-rounded support. They may also provide care in senior living communities, group homes or other healthcare settings.  

WHAT DOES A MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER DO?

Medical social workers provide helpful information and assistance as you navigate the complexities that are sometimes involved in managing an illness or injury. They address the social, financial and psychological aspects of recovery and help you reach your goals. By working towards enhancing patient quality of life and ensuring safety within the home, they focus on promoting independence, and coordinate with other members of your care team to provide comprehensive and personalized care. 

Personalized care plans address each patient’s unique needs and connect them to essential support systems like community resources and financial assistance, leading to high health outcomes and patient satisfaction. Additionally, they serve as core advocates and educators on the patient's behalf. 

For example, home health care social workers address the emotional, financial and practical challenges that often come with managing a chronic illness, recovery or aging. They advocate for your needs, connect you with community resources and work with the health care team to create a personalized plan to help you stay safe and independent at home. Home health social workers can also provide valuable support to patients experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health issues that affect their ability to manage chronic illnesses. 

SOCIAL SERVICES FOR IN-HOME CARE

Your Amedisys home health social worker coordinates with you, your healthcare providers and other members of the home health team so you can receive care that best suits your needs. The social worker’s role in home health care is to provide:

• One-on-one education about health and wellness, tailored to patients’ needs, home routines and goals
• Counseling for emotional or mental health concerns
• Support with coping skills
• Advocacy for patients, helping to communicate their needs and any issues that may affect their care to the healthcare team
• Help accessing financial assistance and health insurance coverage
• Referrals to helpful community resources (e.g., healthy meals, transportation or social outlets like a local senior center)
• Help with planning for long-term care

REASONS A HOME HEALTH SOCIAL WORKER IS NEEDED

You might benefit from a home health social worker if you or your caregiver are facing challenges like: 

• Caregiver burnout: caregivers can experience physical and emotional exhaustion from tending to their loved one’s needs in home health. When this happens, it signals a need for a medical social worker to provide support and guidance. 
• Family dynamics: It can be difficult for family members to make decisions and be on the same page regarding their loved one’s care. The help of a medical social worker can facilitate communication and decision-making processes. 
• Medical equipment and housing difficulties: challenges in managing medical equipment and addressing housing instability may require intervention from a medical social worker to ensure the patient’s well-being and needs are being addressed and that they have access to necessary resources. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

If you qualify for home health care, you may also be eligible for in-home social services. Eligibility typically includes: 

• You need skilled care such as nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy or an ongoing need for occupational therapy; and 
• You’re under the care of a physician who has created a home health plan of care for you; and 
• It’s difficult for you to leave home without assistance (for example, from another person or a device like a walker or wheelchair) or have a condition that makes leaving home medically unsafe. 

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK

Every patient’s situation is unique. When you receive social work services through Amedisys, the first step is a personalized assessment to understand your needs, goals, and challenges. Social worker home visits typically last about an hour, depending on your needs and doctor’s orders. 

Current insurance regulations give medical social workers only a few visits with each client, and the average home care episode lasts two to three months. This means medical social workers have to work quickly and effectively to identify patients’ medical and emotional problems to create long-term change. After a plan is created to address each challenge, they’re your support system while the plan is being implemented. 

Some common goals of medical social services are to help families cope with the challenges of caregiving and to help you: 

• Feel heard and access the resources you need 
• Cope with your illness 
• Stay out of the hospital as much as possible 
• Improve quality of life by meeting social and emotional needs 
• Navigate the healthcare system 
• Achieve the maximum level of independence, so you can stay home as long as possible 
• Create a plan to achieve longer-term goals 

IS HOME HEALTH CARE AN OPTION FOR YOU

Managing an illness or recovering after a surgery or injury can be overwhelming. Our home health social workers can help you learn to manage your condition or navigate your recovery. To learn more, call an Amedisys home health agency near you or ask your doctor if you qualify for home health care.