November 11, 2010- We all want to see our loved ones grow old and live long, healthy lives. When it comes to caring for ill or elderly family members, many Americans are opting for home care versus off-site care at a nursing home, rehabilitation or outpatient center. Timed to coincide with November’s National Home Care and Hospice Month, a new survey reports:

• One in five Americans say they are providing care for a spouse or elderly family member.
• One-third expect to have to provide this kind of care in the next five years.  
• Three out of four Americans would prefer having a terminally ill family member taken care of at home with the help of a trained health aide, rather than at a nursing home or other care facility.
• More than 7 million Americans receive care at home for a variety of conditions.  

According to the survey, most Americans want to keep loved ones close to home with help from a trained professional. The survey also showed that this is the sort of care we’d choose for ourselves, if we were faced with a chronic medical condition and needed this sort of care.

Proposed funding cuts made as part of health care reform have the National Association for Home Care and Hospice fearing a decrease in home health services in many parts of the country. Available to talk to your viewers about data from the survey, revealing attitudes and practices of elder care in your area as well as the nationwide preferences and trends in home care is Dr. Michael Fleming, Chief Medical Officer of Amedisys, a leading provider of home care and hospice services.

Michael Fleming, M.D., is Chief Medical Officer of Amedisys. He is past President of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians; and is founding President of the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum, a partnership with the State of Louisiana aiming to provide high-quality health care to the state. Dr. Fleming has served as Speaker of the Congress of Delegates of the AAFP and as Board Chair of the AAFP Board of Directors. 

This interview is provided by Amedisys.