How in-home support programs may help improve recovery while reducing costs

Providing the care and support your workforce needs may be most crucial following a major procedure or surgery. This includes for your retirees, who may require increased health care needs and longer recovery — or even, costly readmissions to the hospital, post-discharge.

Offering resources and services to help them transition back home for continued recovery — instead of a prolonged hospital stay — may help them heal faster, while reducing care costs. For example, UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions is offering a new “Healthy at Home” program that helps support whole person health through things like meal delivery, transportation and personal care. By helping to maintain their lives at home upon return, retirees are able to just focus on healing – among other additional benefits.

Here are five reasons why you may want to consider in-home support programs for your retirees:

There’s nothing quite like getting back to your own bed after a major medical procedure. However, returning home post-discharge may pose additional challenges. An extra helping hand with daily activities like meal preparation, medication reminders, bathing and respite care may help reduce the stress of the transition back home while helping retirees to maintain their freedom and independence.

After being released from the hospital, there may be safety concerns when retirees return home, particularly with falling. However, there’s actually a high number of falls in a hospital setting, too. In-home care may help by removing potential hazards and helping the patient be a bit more active, when possible, to reduce the risk of falls — and hospitalization. They may also be able to identify high-risk areas and provide solutions before a fall may occur.

A new study found that the home hospital model resulted in nearly 40% lower costs and trial participants had a 70% lower rate of readmission to the hospital. Researchers say this may be due to reduced nursing labor and less diagnostic testing. 

Hospitals may be the best place to be if you are ill or require extensive care, but they may not be the most ideal place for recovery or rehabilitation, especially in a time of COVID-19. The familiarity of being home may help people sleep better and move with fewer limitations. Some patients may also spend less time lying in bed at home versus in a hospital setting, which may help recovery. And with the tools and resources provided through at-home care, the transition back home post-discharge may be more supportive.

At-home care models aim to provide the support needed during recovery that go beyond routine health care. This may include a connection to resources to help address their social needs. For example, with Healthy at Home, this may include transportation to and from medically related appointments or the pharmacy, plus meal delivery.

The advancements in home health support help make it a safe and effective way to care for people during recovery — which means a better experience for your former employees and the potential for reduced costs for you.