OUR PATIENTS

Home healthcare patients are among the sickest and most vulnerable beneficiaries in the Medicare program, underscoring the importance of consistent access to home health. Quality home healthcare services allow these patients to remain in their homes and receive necessary skilled nursing and therapy services, while avoiding unnecessary inpatient care and hospital stays.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that approximately 10,000 Americans turn 65-years old every day.

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At a population of 51.4 million, seniors compose 16 percent of the U.S. population.

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 In 20 years, that number will reach over 70 million, or 20 percent of the population.

As America’s population rapidly ages, there will be greater need for skilled home healthcare services among our nation’s seniors. Home healthcare can meet the care needs of a diverse senior population and reduce America’s healthcare costs as a low-cost care setting.

Plus, a clear majority of American seniors prefer to receive care in the home. Recent polling found that nine in ten seniors (91%) and Medicare beneficiaries (91%) would prefer to receive short-term recovery or rehabilitation health care at home. Further, older voters, Medicare beneficiaries, and caregivers nearly unanimously agree that it is important for them to choose the setting in which they or a loved one receive short-term recovery or rehabilitation care.

Learn more about the Medicare home healthcare patients:

88.2 percent of home healthcare patients are over the age of 65 and 61 percent are women.

Home healthcare patients are more likely to live alone and have poorer health status - an estimated 37.2 percent live alone.

Home health patients' most common diagnoses included: sepsis, heart failure, major hip or knee joint replacement, respiratory infections, hip & femur procedures, intracranial hemorrhage or cerebral infarction, and pneumonia.

43.3 percent of home healthcare patients have five or more chronic conditions.

An estimated 27.9 percent of home healthcare patients have 2 or more impairments and need help with Activities of Daily Living, compared to just 9.8 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries.

57.8% Medicare home health beneficiaries living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).