Hinsdale Health executive recommends home aides as a resource

Home bound patients do well with supervision by home aides, who can cost-effectively monitor patients with multiple chronic conditions to ensure that they are following the regimen prescribed by their physicians, including proper medication dosage.

The Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) has released a strategy to address the challenge of multiple chronic conditions, which the agency says affect more than a quarter of all Americans.

The report, "Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Strategic Framework (PDF)," includes the following four goals: to foster healthcare and public-health system changes to improve the health of those with multiple chronic conditions; to maximize the use of proven self-care management and other services by those with multiple chronic conditions; to provide better tools and information to healthcare, public health and social service workers who deliver care to this patient population; and to facilitate research to “fill knowledge gaps” about the interventions and systems to benefit these patients.”

According to the report, 66% of total healthcare spending in America is directed toward care for about 27% of Americans with multiple chronic conditions.

“These types of patients do well with supervision by home aides, who can cost-effectively monitor patients with multiple chronic conditions to ensure that they are following the regimen prescribed by their physicians, including proper medication dosage,” said Richard Ueberfluss a certified physical therapist and president of Assisting Hands-Chicago, based in Hinsdale, Illinois.

He adds that patients with multiple chronic conditions also are more apt to fall at home. In fact, falls among the elderly are common, with as many as 40% of people age 65 and older falling each year. Many home care agencies have personnel trained in fall prevention.