October 30, 2023
In the fall of 2022, the Illinois HomeCare and Hospice Council (IHHC) convened a committee, chaired by Sheila McMackin, LCSW, to explore the concept of applying levels of care to in-home health care. (To learn about levels of care, see our blog post, “Like Hospitals, Home Care Agencies Should Have Levels of Care.”) The Levels ... Read More
April 18, 2023
We were honored to receive this letter from a client recently. The client is overseeing care for his parents and gave us permission to share their photo (above) and his name. Steve wrote to Sheila McMackin, owner, and Edwin Nunez, director of nursing, about the excellent care and service his family are receiving from our ... Read More
February 15, 2023
Did you know that in Illinois, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) can now administer medications to their home nursing clients? Previously, CNAs who come into the home were only allowed to provide medication reminders to their clients. This change makes it easier for patients who live alone to continue receiving in-home care. Family caregivers can also ... Read More
January 31, 2023
What happens when a hospital is ready to discharge a patient who still needs ongoing clinical care? Typically they’re transferred to a nursing home or nursing and rehabilitation center. Most people would rather be sent home (or wherever they call home) so they can continue living in their own space. Fortunately, clients who choose Wellspring ... Read More
November 22, 2022
In last month’s blog post, we talked about how consumers would be better served if home care agencies were required to use levels of care, similar to how hospitals treat their patients. You can read about that here. This month, we want to look at another idea that, if used consistently by the home care ... Read More
September 19, 2022
We know what you’re going through. You or your loved one need in-home care—perhaps urgently—and you have a lot of choices. With so many home-care agencies available, you may wonder how to evaluate and choose one. We’d like to help ease the process for you by sharing some of the key factors that separate Wellspring ... Read More
July 21, 2022
In Illinois there are about 260 home nursing agencies, but more than 900 home service agencies. Consumers need to be aware of the difference when they make choices. “I don’t want to put my mom in a nursing home. I want to figure out how to take care of her at home.” More and more, ... Read More
May 24, 2022
Millions of people—most of them seniors on fixed incomes—need in-home nursing care or personal assistance. Unfortunately, with minor exceptions, in-home care is not covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Some long-term care insurance policies might cover it. For the most part, Americans must pay out-of-pocket for the care they receive at home—and that care can be ... Read More
April 30, 2021
While COVID-19 upended most people’s lives for more than a year, the motivation to adapt and change behavior was rooted in the belief that there would be an eventual return to pre-COVID normalcy. As rising hospitalizations and lives lost dominated daily headlines, it was difficult to ignore the disproportionate impact of this disease on disadvantaged ... Read More