Every November, this observance honors the many home health and hospice workers —nurses, aides, social workers, therapists and administrators — who make a remarkable difference in the daily lives of patients and their families.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating the achievements of the hardworking employees of Gentiva Home Health during National Home Care & Hospice Month,” said Renee Tyndall, director of the Pink Hill branch. “November is a time to recognize and applaud the people who help improve the lives of patients by working with them in the comfort of their own homes.”
November also marks the beginning of the holiday period when patients especially want to be at home with their loved ones, she said.
“This is a time when we like to remind our patients, their families and their physicians,” Tyndall said, “that we provide care in the home setting throughout the holidays, every day of the week.”
Home health is an often overlooked sector of the medical profession that merits increased attention for its ability to actually reduce the overall costs of healthcare.
“At a time when our country is searching for answers to a growing financial crisis, home health provides an effective, efficient healthcare alternative,” Tyndall said. “We make it possible for more of our citizens to recover from surgery or manage chronic illnesses at home — among family and friends — and avoid unnecessary visits to the hospital or other institutions.”
The goal of home healthcare professionals is to promote not only health but also independence and quality of life, she said.
“Thanks to clinical advancements in home health,” Tyndall said, “more of America’s older residents are now able to remain mobile and energetic as they pursue life’s goals — from visiting the grandkids to traveling to staying on the job.”