5 Signs Your Loved One Needs Home Health Services

Watching a parent, spouse, or family member struggle with daily tasks is difficult. In many Rio Grande Valley families, the instinct is to handle everything within the household — to cook, clean, transport, and care for aging or recovering loved ones without outside help. That dedication is admirable, but there comes a point when professional support is not just helpful but necessary.

Home health services exist to bridge that gap. They bring licensed therapists and nurses into the home to provide skilled medical care that family members, no matter how devoted, are not trained to deliver.

Here are five signs that your loved one may benefit from professional home health services.

1. Difficulty Speaking, Swallowing, or Communicating

Changes in speech and communication often develop gradually. You might notice your loved one struggling to find words, speaking in shorter sentences, or becoming frustrated during conversations. Swallowing difficulties — coughing during meals, avoiding certain foods, or losing weight unexpectedly — are another warning sign that should not be ignored.

These symptoms can result from stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, dementia, or other neurological conditions. A licensed speech-language pathologist can evaluate the situation and provide targeted therapy to improve communication and swallowing safety.

At Professional Rehab Services, our bilingual speech therapists work with patients throughout the RGV, providing therapy in English or Spanish based on the patient's preference.

2. Declining Ability to Perform Daily Activities

Pay attention to whether your loved one is having increasing difficulty with tasks they once handled independently:

• Getting dressed or bathing without assistance
• Preparing meals or managing medications
• Moving safely around the house
• Using the bathroom independently
• Managing household tasks like laundry or cleaning

A gradual decline in these abilities is a hallmark of conditions that occupational therapy can address. An occupational therapist evaluates the patient's functional capacity, identifies barriers in the home environment, and develops strategies to restore as much independence as possible.

This might include adaptive equipment recommendations, home safety modifications, energy conservation techniques, and hands-on training for both the patient and caregiver.

3. Recent Hospitalization or Surgery

The transition from hospital to home is one of the most vulnerable periods in a patient's recovery. Studies show that nearly one in five Medicare patients is readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge — and many of those readmissions are preventable with proper follow-up care.

If your loved one has recently been discharged from a hospital or undergone surgery, home health services can provide:

• Skilled nursing to monitor vital signs, manage wounds, administer medications, and watch for complications
• Physical therapy to rebuild strength, mobility, and balance
• Occupational therapy to help the patient safely resume daily routines
• Speech therapy if the hospitalization involved stroke, intubation, or neurological events

Your physician or hospital discharge planner can initiate a referral to a home health agency before your loved one even leaves the facility.

4. Frequent Falls or Balance Problems

Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults, and the consequences can be severe — hip fractures, head injuries, and a cascading loss of confidence and mobility. If your loved one has fallen recently, or if you have noticed unsteadiness, grabbing furniture for support, or reluctance to move around the house, take it seriously.

A physical therapist can conduct a fall risk assessment in the home, identifying specific hazards and deficits. Treatment typically includes:

• Balance and coordination exercises
• Strength training for the lower extremities
• Gait training with or without assistive devices
• Home safety recommendations such as grab bars, non-slip surfaces, and improved lighting

Addressing fall risk early can prevent a catastrophic injury and preserve your loved one's independence.

5. Caregiver Burnout

This sign is about you, the family caregiver. If you are experiencing chronic fatigue, anxiety, irritability, social withdrawal, or a decline in your own health, you may be approaching or already experiencing caregiver burnout.

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, more than 53 million Americans provide unpaid care to a family member. Many of them report that caregiving has negatively affected their own physical and mental health.

Home health services can relieve some of that burden by handling the skilled medical aspects of your loved one's care. When a licensed therapist or nurse manages wound care, medication adjustments, rehabilitation exercises, and safety monitoring, you are free to focus on being a family member rather than a clinician.

You do not have to do this alone.

What to Do Next

If any of these signs resonate, here is how to take the next step:

Talk to your loved one's physician. Describe the specific changes you have observed. Ask whether a home health referral is appropriate. Most physicians are very receptive to these conversations, especially when you can provide concrete examples.

Contact a home health agency directly. You do not always need to wait for a physician to initiate the process. At Professional Rehab Services, we can help coordinate with your doctor to obtain the necessary orders.

Know that most services are covered. Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans cover home health services when ordered by a physician. There is typically no out-of-pocket cost to the patient for covered services.

Home Health in the Rio Grande Valley

Professional Rehab Services provides in-home speech therapy, occupational therapy, and skilled nursing across the Rio Grande Valley — including McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Weslaco, and Harlingen. Our team is bilingual, locally based, and focused on helping patients recover and thrive at home.

If you are concerned about a family member, contact us today for a free consultation. We will help you understand your options and take the first step toward getting your loved one the care they need.