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What Does Homebound Mean In Medical Terms?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Homebound in medical terms means a person typically cannot leave their home without help. Assistance may be provided by another person, or the individual may have special equipment needs. For example, a person may be homebound if they can’t go outside without the help of a mobility aid, such as a wheelchair or crutches, or if they require modified transportation.
An individual can also be classified as homebound if a medical professional advises they don’t leave their home due to risks caused by an illness or cognitive limitations. It might be necessary for a doctor to define a person as homebound so that they can receive various benefits or support services.
Can Homebound Seniors Leave Their Home?
Meeting the definition for homebound doesn’t mean the person must never leave the house. With assistance, they go to numerous places related to improving their health, such as attending medical and dental appointments and adult day care services in a community setting. They can infrequently go out for leisure purposes and special events as well, such as receiving salon services, going to weddings and funerals, visiting family and attending religious services. Essentially, homebound individuals must experience some limitations on their ability to go out unaided. They don’t need to be bed-bound or unable to move around inside their own home.
What Services Might Homebound Seniors Need?
Homebound seniors typically need somebody to run everyday errands and do grocery shopping for them. A family member or an informal caregiver typically provide these services, or they could form part of a structured care plan delivered by a home care agency’s caregiver. Homebound seniors may also require various domestic, clinical or therapeutic services from home or home health care companies. Care plans may include companionship services to combat social isolation and loneliness for people who can’t get out as much as they once did.
Homebound seniors may prefer to receive care in a residential setting, such as an assisted living facility. People who meet the homebound definition because of cognitive impairment may require residential memory care services, while individuals with severe medical needs may be better served in a nursing home.