How do I determine what is considered “homebound?”
• Medicare defines homebound as: “there exists a normal inability to leave home and, consequently, leaving home would require a considerable and taxing effort.”
• Medicare deems the following groups of people to be homebound:
o People requiring the use of crutches, canes, wheelchairs, walkers, or human assistance to leave the home
o Senile patients
o Patients who have lost the use of an upper extremity and may be limited in the use of stair handrails
o Patients with limited ability for ambulation due to pain &/or weakness
o Patients with heart disease who must avoid stress
o People for whom outings may be medically contraindicated as determined by the physician.
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