A Caregivers Guide to Hospital Discharge

Compare Local Home Health Care Agencies

  A recent comparison done by the Social Security Administration of hospital, nursing home and home health costs showed that in 2008 a one day hospital stay averaged $5,036, one day in a nursing home was $535, and a single home health visit was $125. It is little wonder then that both government and industry is moving in the direction of cost effective home care for non-acute and long term health care. The good news is that patient satisfaction levels for this approach are high and clinical outcomes are positive. In addition, advances in technology and development of protocols for managing chronic diseases have increasingly made home healthcare a preferred approach. 

      For now, the biggest hurdle for most families desiring home healthcare is the bewildering array of service providers. The link below is to a Medicare site that rates home health service providers in a variety of categories such as managing pain and preventing hospital visits. Just plug in your zip code and click on the provider for a detailed assessment.

Compare Agencies 

 Geriatric MD Shortage

During the 2008-2009 academic year, nearly 40% of first year openings for geriatric specialists went unfilled. According to Dr. Jerald Winakur at the Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics at the University of Texas Health Science Center, more doctors specializing in the elderly are retiring each year than are being trained in medical schools. He points out that geriatrics is the lowest paying specialty and when one considers the debt load most medical students assume, its no wonder it has become an unpopular career path - even at a time when the need is exploding.  

 Duke Bereavement Services 

  Grief is a multi-faceted response to loss that has emotional, physical, cogniitive, behavioral, social and philosophical dimensions.

Bereavement refers to the "state" of loss while grief is the reaction. 

We are fortunate here in the Triangle to have available to us the support of Duke Hospice Bereavement Services. They offer a wide range of services including short term individual counseling, support groups and workshops, programs for children and teens, crisis intervention, and even an overnight camp for K-8. Moreover, services are offered free of charge to Duke Hospice families and by donation to all others. 

Find out more about Duke Bereavement Services