Home care nursing is a fast-growing sector of the healthcare system. W

Home care nursing is a fast-growing sector of the healthcare system. Which of the following factors have contributed to the growth of home health care?

1. The need for custodial care.
2. Third-party payers who support cost-control measures.
3. The increase in the older adult population.
4. The decreasing need for acute care.
5. A decrease in hospital-based services.

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 2,3
Rationale 1: A common misconception about home health nursing is that it is custodial in its scope of practice.
Rationale 2: Factors that have contributed to the growth of homecare services include third-party payers who favor home care to control costs.
Rationale 3: Factors that have contributed to the growth of homecare services include the increase in the older population.
Rationale 4: Acute care has not decreased, but the length of stay in acute care has.
Rationale 5: Hospital-based services, while increasing in cost, have not decreased in availability.