Florida's hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, with peak activity between August and October. For older adults — particularly those managing chronic conditions, taking multiple medications, or receiving home health services — a hurricane is not just a weather event. It is a medical and logistical challenge that requires advance planning. The good news: with the right preparation, seniors and their families can weather the season safely.

Know Your Evacuation Zone Before a Storm Is Named

Pasco County uses a lettered evacuation zone system (A through F) based on storm surge risk. Zone A carries the highest risk and is typically ordered to evacuate first. You can find your zone by entering your address at the Pasco County Emergency Management website or by calling 727-847-8137. Do not wait for a storm to look this up — know your zone now, before hurricane season peaks. If you are in a mobile home or manufactured housing, you should plan to evacuate for any tropical storm or hurricane regardless of zone. The Florida Division of Emergency Management also maintains Know Your Zone resources at floridadisaster.org.

Prepare a 7-Day Medication Supply — Minimum

The Florida Department of Health recommends that seniors have at least a 7-day supply of all prescription medications on hand before a storm makes landfall. Many pharmacies will allow an early refill when a hurricane watch or warning is issued. Keep medications in a waterproof bag or container and store them in your go-bag. Include a written list of all medications, dosages, prescribing physicians, and pharmacy contact information. If you use medical equipment that requires electricity — such as a CPAP, nebulizer, or home oxygen concentrator — contact your equipment supplier and your power company's medical needs program well before storm season to discuss backup power options.

Have a Place to Go — and Tell Someone Your Plan

Identify your destination before a storm is forecast. Options include staying with family or friends outside the evacuation zone, a hotel or motel inland, or a public emergency shelter. Pasco County opens special needs shelters for residents who require medical assistance or have functional needs — registration is required in advance through the Pasco County Special Needs Shelter Program at 727-847-8137. If you plan to use a public shelter, be aware that most do not accept pets (see below). Whatever your plan, write it down and share it with a family member, neighbor, or your home health care team so someone knows where you are going.

Plan for Your Pets

Most public emergency shelters do not accept pets. If you have a dog, cat, or other animal, you must plan for them in advance — because many seniors will not evacuate without their pets, and that decision can be life-threatening. Pasco County operates a co-located pet-friendly shelter during major storms; check with Pasco County Emergency Management for current availability. You can also identify pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation route using resources like petswelcome.com or bringfido.com. Prepare a pet go-bag that includes food, water, medications, vaccination records, a carrier or leash, and a photo of you with your pet in case you are separated.

Build Your Go-Bag Now

FEMA recommends having a go-bag ready at all times during hurricane season. For seniors, the essentials include: at least 7 days of prescription medications and a written medication list; copies of insurance cards, Medicare card, and photo ID; a 3-day supply of non-perishable food and water (one gallon per person per day); a battery-powered or hand-crank radio; a flashlight with extra batteries; a first aid kit; a phone charger and backup battery; cash in small bills; and any medical supplies or equipment you use regularly. Store your go-bag in an easy-to-reach location and review its contents at the start of each hurricane season.

Register with the Special Needs Shelter Program

Pasco County's Special Needs Shelter Program is designed for residents who require medical supervision, assistance with activities of daily living, or have functional needs that cannot be met in a general population shelter. To register, call Pasco County Emergency Management at 727-847-8137. Registration must be completed before a storm threatens — you cannot register once a watch or warning is issued. If you or a loved one receives home health services, talk to your care team about your hurricane plan. Mission Home Care can help coordinate care continuity and communicate with your physician if you need to evacuate or if services are disrupted after a storm.

Sources & References

• Pasco County Emergency Management — Know Your Zone
• Florida Department of Health — Hurricane Preparedness
• FEMA — Build a Kit
• FEMA — Pets and Disaster Preparedness
• Florida Division of Emergency Management — Know Your Zone

Knowing when to seek professional home health care for a family member can be one of the most important — and difficult — decisions a caregiver faces. The following five clinical signs, recognized by healthcare professionals and supported by research, can help guide that decision.

1. Frequent Falls or Declining Balance

According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among adults 65 and older. One in four older adults falls each year, and falling once doubles the chance of falling again. If your loved one has experienced a recent fall or is showing signs of unsteady gait, a physician-ordered physical therapy evaluation at home can identify risk factors and implement a personalized fall prevention plan.

2. Difficulty Managing Medications

Medication non-adherence is a major driver of preventable hospitalizations. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) estimates that medication errors contribute to approximately 1.3 million emergency department visits annually. A skilled home health nurse can conduct a thorough medication reconciliation, educate the patient and family, and coordinate with the prescribing physician to simplify complex regimens.

3. Recent Hospital or Rehabilitation Discharge

The 30-day period following a hospital discharge is one of the highest-risk windows for complications and readmission. CMS data shows that nearly one in five Medicare patients is readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Skilled home health care during this transition period — including wound care, IV therapy, and disease management — is one of the most effective evidence-based strategies for preventing readmission.

4. Worsening of a Chronic Condition

Chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes are among the most common reasons for home health referrals. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute notes that CHF patients who receive structured home monitoring and nursing follow-up have significantly lower rates of acute decompensation and hospitalization. Early clinical intervention at home can stabilize these conditions before they require emergency care.

5. Difficulty with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

When a person struggles with basic self-care tasks — such as bathing, dressing, grooming, or safe mobility — it is a strong indicator that skilled support is needed. Occupational therapists can assess functional limitations, recommend adaptive equipment, and train patients in compensatory techniques to restore independence. Home health aide services, when ordered by a physician alongside skilled care, can provide supervised personal care assistance.

Sources & References

• CDC — Falls Prevention in Older Adults
• AHRQ — Medication Safety
• CMS — Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
• NHLBI — Heart Failure

Hospital readmissions represent one of the most significant quality and cost challenges in American healthcare. For patients and families, a readmission means disruption, risk, and stress. For the healthcare system, CMS estimates that preventable readmissions cost Medicare more than $26 billion annually. Skilled home health care is one of the most effective tools available to bridge the gap between hospital discharge and full recovery.

The Readmission Problem

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) reports that approximately 15% of Medicare patients are readmitted within 30 days of a hospital discharge. The most common conditions driving readmissions include heart failure, pneumonia, COPD, and joint replacement complications. Many of these readmissions are considered preventable with appropriate post-discharge follow-up and monitoring.

Medication Reconciliation

One of the most critical interventions a skilled home health nurse performs is medication reconciliation — a systematic review of all medications a patient is taking to identify discrepancies, duplications, or dangerous interactions. The Joint Commission identifies medication reconciliation as a National Patient Safety Goal, noting that medication errors at care transitions are among the most common and preventable causes of adverse events and readmissions.

Early Detection of Clinical Deterioration

Skilled nurses are trained to identify early warning signs of clinical deterioration — subtle changes in vital signs, weight, respiratory status, or mental acuity that may precede a crisis. By detecting these changes during a home visit and communicating promptly with the patient's physician, the care team can intervene before a condition escalates to an emergency. This proactive monitoring is particularly important for patients with CHF, COPD, and diabetes.

Patient and Caregiver Education

Research consistently shows that patient education is one of the strongest predictors of successful recovery and reduced readmission. Home health clinicians provide structured education on disease management, dietary guidelines, activity restrictions, wound care, and when to seek emergency care. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) identifies patient and family engagement as a core strategy in its evidence-based readmission reduction toolkit.

Sources & References

• MedPAC — Hospital Readmissions Report
• The Joint Commission — National Patient Safety Goals
• CMS — Home Health Quality
• AHRQ — Re-Engineered Discharge Toolkit

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a broad range of home health benefits to eligible veterans through the VA Community Care Network (CCN). For veterans who live far from a VA facility or require services not available through the VA directly, the CCN allows care to be delivered by approved community providers — including Mission Home Care.

What Is the VA Community Care Network?

The VA Community Care Network (CCN) is a network of community-based healthcare providers authorized to deliver care to eligible veterans on behalf of the VA. The CCN is administered by Optum Health (TriWest in some regions) and was established under the VA MISSION Act of 2018. The MISSION Act expanded veterans' access to community care by broadening eligibility criteria and streamlining the referral process.

Who Is Eligible?

Veterans may be eligible for community care, including home health services, if they meet one or more of the following criteria established by the VA MISSION Act: (1) The VA cannot provide the needed service. (2) The veteran lives more than 30 minutes from the nearest VA facility offering the service. (3) The veteran has been waiting more than 20 days for a VA appointment. (4) The veteran and their VA provider agree that community care is in the veteran's best medical interest. Eligibility is determined by the veteran's VA primary care team.

What Home Health Services Are Covered?

Through the CCN, eligible veterans can receive skilled home health services including skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology — the same services covered under Medicare. A referral from the veteran's VA primary care provider is required. Mission Home Care is an approved VA Community Care Network provider and coordinates directly with the VA to manage authorizations and care plans.

How to Access VA Home Health Care

To begin the process, veterans should contact their VA primary care provider and request a referral for home health services through the Community Care Network. Once the VA issues an authorization, Mission Home Care will coordinate directly with the VA and the veteran to schedule the initial assessment and begin care. Veterans can also call Mission Home Care directly at 813-355-4804 and our team will help navigate the referral process.

Sources & References

• VA.gov — Community Care Network
• VA.gov — MISSION Act of 2018
• VA.gov — Home Health Care Services

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among adults aged 65 and older in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that each year, approximately 36 million falls occur among older adults, resulting in more than 32,000 deaths and 3 million emergency department visits. The good news: falls are largely preventable with the right clinical interventions.

The Scope of the Problem

According to the CDC's STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) initiative, one in four Americans aged 65 and older falls each year. Falls result in more than 800,000 hospitalizations annually, most often due to head injuries or hip fractures. The total medical cost of falls in the U.S. exceeds $50 billion per year. Despite these statistics, less than half of older adults who fall discuss it with their healthcare provider.

Clinical Risk Assessment

A comprehensive fall risk assessment by a licensed physical therapist is the foundation of any effective prevention program. The CDC's STEADI toolkit recommends screening all patients 65 and older for fall risk using validated tools such as the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the 30-Second Chair Stand test, and the 4-Stage Balance test. These assessments identify specific impairments in strength, balance, and gait that can be targeted with individualized therapy.

Exercise and Physical Therapy

The American Geriatrics Society and British Geriatrics Society Clinical Practice Guideline recommends exercise — particularly balance and strength training — as the single most effective intervention for fall prevention. Home-based physical therapy programs prescribed by a licensed PT and tailored to the individual patient have been shown in multiple randomized controlled trials to reduce fall rates by 30 to 40 percent. Medicare covers physician-ordered home PT for homebound patients.

Home Safety Modifications

Environmental hazards contribute to more than half of all home falls. A home safety assessment conducted by a licensed occupational therapist can identify and address risks such as loose rugs, poor lighting, lack of grab bars, and cluttered pathways. The CDC recommends removing tripping hazards, installing grab bars in bathrooms, improving lighting throughout the home, and using non-slip mats. These low-cost modifications can significantly reduce fall risk.

Medication Review

Certain medications — including sedatives, antidepressants, antihypertensives, and diuretics — significantly increase fall risk. The American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria identifies specific drug classes that are potentially inappropriate for older adults due to their fall risk profile. A skilled home health nurse can conduct a medication review and communicate with the prescribing physician to identify and address high-risk medications as part of a comprehensive fall prevention plan.

Sources & References

• CDC — STEADI Initiative
• CDC — Falls Data and Statistics
• AGS/BGS Clinical Practice Guideline — Fall Prevention
• AGS Beers Criteria 2023

Beginning home health care can feel unfamiliar, especially if you or a loved one has never received services at home before. Understanding what happens during the first visit — called the Start of Care (SOC) assessment — can help patients and families feel prepared and confident.

The Start of Care (SOC) Assessment

The first home health visit is a comprehensive clinical assessment required by CMS for all Medicare-certified home health agencies. It is conducted by a licensed registered nurse or therapist and typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. The clinician will review your physician's orders, medical history, current medications, recent hospitalizations, and functional status. This assessment is the foundation for your individualized Plan of Care (POC).

The OASIS Assessment Tool

As part of the SOC visit, your clinician will complete the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) — a standardized data collection tool required by CMS for all Medicare and Medicaid home health patients. OASIS captures information about your functional abilities, clinical status, and care needs. This data is used to develop your Plan of Care, measure your progress over time, and ensure your care meets CMS quality standards.

What to Have Ready

To make the most of your first visit, it helps to have the following available: a complete list of all current medications (including over-the-counter drugs and supplements), your insurance cards (Medicare, supplemental insurance, or other coverage), your physician's contact information, any recent hospital discharge paperwork or physician orders, and a list of questions or concerns you would like to discuss with the clinician.

Developing Your Plan of Care

Following the SOC assessment, your home health clinician will develop an individualized Plan of Care in collaboration with your physician. The POC outlines the specific services you will receive, the frequency and duration of visits, your treatment goals, and the clinical interventions to be performed. Under Medicare guidelines, the Plan of Care must be reviewed and signed by your physician before skilled services can begin. Your care team will keep you and your family informed throughout the process.

Sources & References

• CMS — Home Health Conditions of Participation
• CMS — OASIS Data Set
• Medicare.gov — Home Health Services