Health Care at Home
Wednesday - January 30, 2008
With advances in health care and technology, people with chronic diseases and illness are living longer and spending shorter periods of time in hospitals and institutionalized settings. In an effort to increase quality of life and decrease healthcare spending, care in the community has become increasingly more popular. With the proper supports, management and guidance, care in the community can provide a quality of care that is comprehensive and holistic in nature. Without proper management and supports, living with serious illness or disease in the community/home setting can be an isolating and detrimental experience. The State of Hawaii Department of Human Services offers a number of programs to support eligible Medicaid clients receiving care in the community. Programs include, but are not limited to: Nursing Home Without Walls (NHWW), Developmental Disabilities and Mental Retardation (DD/MR) Program and The Medically Fragile Community Care Program (MFCC). These programs provide services for children, adults and seniors with developmental impairment and/or serious chronic disabilities.
Mastercare, a home and health care agency, specializes in providing support to individuals in the aforementioned programs living with disabilities and illness. We provide a wide range of health and supportive services as well as skilled nursing care to individuals requiring care in a residential setting. Mastercare was founded in 2003 and is located in Oahu as well as Maui and Kauai. We are currently expanding our scope of service to include the Big Island and the mainland.
Mastercare believes health care at home for individuals with serious or chronic illness has a number of advantages. It allows the individual to maintain close relationships with family and friends and keeps them connected with their community. It can be particularly important in helping people to maintain identity, independence and cultural connection.
When individuals are faced with chronic illness or disease, the losses they experience can be overwhelming. In addition to loss of physical function, illness and disease can lead to loss of the ability to provide basic care for oneself, an inability to engage in meaningful activities or hobbies, loss of a job, separation from loved ones and/or moving from a family home or community. Even loss of familiar routines or habits can be difficult. Part of adapting to a debilitating illness both for the individual and those they love is creating a positive identity within the physical limits of the disease or illness. It often means accepting the loss of some activities and functions and replacing them with new pursuits and ways of engaging with people and the environment. Not an easy task, and arguably more difficult in an institutionalized setting. When individuals remain in their home setting when facing illness and disease, they continue to have access to many of the things and people who have been important to them and are integral to their sense of identity and security.
Mastercare understands that health care delivered in the comfort and security of the home provides the individual and family with a sense of control and peace of mind. Remaining at home when facing disability or serious illness can enable the individual to maintain social ties and involvement with family, friends and the community. This helps to preserve a sense of independence for the person.
Mastercare provides support and healthcare to individuals at home while making every effort to preserve their quality of life, limit losses and promote family and community interaction.If you or someone you know requires health care at home or in the community, call Mastercare at 597-1564.
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