When you are sick, where would you rather be treated? Odds are most of us would prefer the security and comfort of our own home rather than a hospital or nursing home. More than 11 million Americans agree. This is why WVUH-East Home Health Care is celebrating National Home Care Month this November.

Why do we celebrate? More than just providing excellent care where and when patients need and want it, home care saves the United States and commercial insurers billions of health care dollars each year. There is no more cost effective provider of health care in our country.

When your mother, father, sister, brother or neighbor are struggling with a disability, dealing with chronic illness, or recovering from a recent hospital stay, home care professional caregivers have the answer. Through technological advances, home-delivered health care has grown far beyond basic nursing and home health aid services. Modern home care has many of the same “bells and whistles” of hospital care. Today, home health patients can receive everything from shampoos to chemotherapy. Home health care providers work diligently to keep Americans in their homes, where they belong.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving and recall our many gifts, please remember the home care professionals in our community who make a difference every day for our loved ones. They make it possible for the healing to begin at home. I am honored to be part of the solution and to work with such a wonderful group of health care professionals at WVUH-East Home Health Care.