Home care--a Family Education Package

This project is composed of two educational packages to educate families on issues relating toat-home care for chronically or critically ill family members. One videotape/workbook package will focuson families who provide care for an ill child. The other will focus on adult patients who are cared forin their own home or in a family member's home. Both packages will seek to educate families on thechoices involved, the funding/reimbursement issues, and the benefits and challenges of home care. Bothpackages will be researched and reviewed by professionals in the field of home care, both the medicalconsultants who make up the project advisory board and also by social workers and home careprofessionals and para-professionals. Three focus groups will be held with families to ensure that thematerials adequately meet their needs. Home care is becoming a reality for growing numbers of patientsand their families as the U.S. health care system seeks to cut costs and care for patients in the best waypossible. With this increase in utilization comes an increased need for information and resources. Thesevideotape/print packages are designed to fill that growing need.