Getting your older adult to the doctor’s office for an appointment can be difficult or sometimes impossible.

Whether they’re frail, can’t walk on their own, or have Alzheimer’s or dementia, getting out of the house is hard on both of you. Going to a doctor’s office can also expose seniors to germs or harsh weather.

We explain what a house call doctor is, home healthcare, and the modern-day house call.

What is a house call doctor?

Today, many doctors are bringing back the old practice of visiting patients in their homes. With house calls, older adults don’t have to go through the stress and difficulty of getting to the doctor’s office. And neither do you.

Another bonus is that these doctors usually spend more time with patients. You won’t have to fit all your questions into a 15 minute visit.

Just remember that house calls aren’t for emergency situations (call 911 instead). They’re basically like a regular office visit.

Here are a few suggestions to make your in-home doctor visits as productive as possible:

• Collect your thoughts of what you want to talk about prior to your appointment.
• Make a list of goals to help you stay on track during the visit.
• Minimize outside distractions. Having a quiet and comfortable space to talk with your provider is important.
• Make sure your home is clean
• Most importantly, treat this meeting just as another office visit with your physician.

Home Healthcare

Home healthcare encompasses a wide range of in-home care services — from skilled nursing assistance and physical therapy services to telemedicine and the modern-day house call.

By the 1980’s, our emergency medicine system was feeling the strain of ER overuse and Medicare was footing the bill for a growing number of seniors whose ongoing medical care was being handled in a hospital setting. In the 80’s and 90’s, home care companies began to fill the need for care for the elderly that don’t require costly hospital or nursing home stays.

In this model, health aides are sent to the homes of seniors or others with various medical conditions to help them with minor medical care as well as every day needs like bathing, feeding, taking medications or monitoring health markers such as blood pressure or glucose levels.

These tasks are can be performed by nurses, medical assistants, or caregivers with little to no formal medical training. While they cannot address specific medical needs the way a doctor could, the practice has proven invaluable for helping the elderly or disabled to maintain independence. It also has been shown to reduce hospital stays and help post-operative patients recover faster in the comfort of their own homes.

Do they accept Medicare?

Yes, we accept Medicare, Medicaid, United Health Care, Aetna, Molina, Humana, PPO, and many more.

The Modern-Day House Call

Frustrated with the lack of personal connection in our current healthcare system, more and more providers are beginning to value the ability to spend time getting to know a patient.

Technology has brought about more compact and affordable versions of many typical diagnostic and treatment devices. In fact, in most cases a home visit from a physician or medical team is far less expensive than a trip to the local ER.

The modern-day house call provides a number of benefits including cost savings, convenience, more time with your care provider, less exposure to other sick patients, additional independence for seniors and an effortless medical experience overall. It’s an old idea that’s making new waves across the US and around the world.