(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Funding cuts are affecting everything, even your health.
Signs are pointing to fewer personal visits from a nurse for in-home healthcare.
"I've been a home health nurse now for 19 years and there were times that we would see a patient twice a day," said Becky Hunstman.
But those times have changed.
Healthcare costs are going up and funding for things like in-home healthcare are taking a hit.
Personal visits are no longer affordable.
So nurses have to train friends, family, and even the patients ways to take care of themselves.
"Most of us, our hearts are here and we want to provide more care than we have funds for and that makes it very difficult for us," said Chris Weigel.
It is a change that may be different from what people are used to with home healthcare.
But with rising healthcare costs, Medicare funding has remained unchanged.
"There used to the way of how home health used to be and trying to get them back on board with the changes that are being made," said Weigel.
Technology, though, is allowing for more personalized attention away from the home, something that was not available in years past.
It is a customized attention that comes with a necessity to stretch healthcare dollars.
"What we're doing is going in and assessing the patient to see if they are performing whatever we need to be doing in the home," said Huntsman.
Signs are pointing to fewer personal visits from a nurse for in-home healthcare.
"I've been a home health nurse now for 19 years and there were times that we would see a patient twice a day," said Becky Hunstman.
But those times have changed.
Healthcare costs are going up and funding for things like in-home healthcare are taking a hit.
Personal visits are no longer affordable.
So nurses have to train friends, family, and even the patients ways to take care of themselves.
"Most of us, our hearts are here and we want to provide more care than we have funds for and that makes it very difficult for us," said Chris Weigel.
It is a change that may be different from what people are used to with home healthcare.
But with rising healthcare costs, Medicare funding has remained unchanged.
"There used to the way of how home health used to be and trying to get them back on board with the changes that are being made," said Weigel.
Technology, though, is allowing for more personalized attention away from the home, something that was not available in years past.
It is a customized attention that comes with a necessity to stretch healthcare dollars.
"What we're doing is going in and assessing the patient to see if they are performing whatever we need to be doing in the home," said Huntsman.
