Most people prefer to be at home when recovering from an illness or surgery. Rapid City Regional Hospital's Home Care Agency is the most experienced home health agency in Western South Dakota. A member of the Home Care Advantage team can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Service area includes Pennington, Custer, Fall River counties, and adjacent communities in Meade County.

Regional Hospital's Home Care program promotes healing in the comfort of the patient's home while providing a comprehensive range of high quality services and professional care. Home Care serves clients of all ages - from infants, teenagers, young adults to the elderly. Quality care is continuously monitored.

• Skilled Nursing Services
• Follow-up after surgery (wound care assessments)
• Skilled monitoring of chronic problems such as cancer, diabetes, heart and lung disease
• Teaching for diagnosis requiring new medications
• Calcimar injections for osteoporosis
• Sterile dressing changes
• Aide assistance with personal care, household services or exercises
• Physical and Occupational Therapy
• Speech Therapy
• Psychiatric Nursing
• Medical Social Work Services
• Case Management of chronic problems
• Pediatric home care for children who have special medical problems
• Antepartum high-risk home visit assessments and monitoring
• Postpartum - mother and baby assessments

The extended care program lends a helping hand so people can live independently in their own homes. Certified aides and homemakers provide support services under the supervision of nurses.

• Personal Care Assistance
• Shampoo and hair care
• Light meal preparation
• Laundry
• Light housekeeping
• Companionship
• Shopping and assistance with errands
• Transportation to appointments
• Assistance with exercise and ambulation
• Nursing Services (RN, LPN) are also available through Extended Care.

Regional Hospital's Hospice of the Hills program provides compassionate care for terminally-ill patients with an end-stage disease process and limited life expectancy. These services are available for people of all ages. Health care professionals strive to meet the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the patient and family. Hospice services can take place in the home, supervised living facility or nursing home.

• Skilled nursing care in patient's home or nursing home facility with hospice contracts.
• Nursing Services are available on call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week including holidays.
• Assistance with personal hygiene and skin care
• Arrangements for durable medical equipment and physical therapy services in the patients' home when medically indicated.
• Bereavement services for family members.
• Volunteers to help with direct patient care, errands, and to provide companionship.
• Social Work Staff to help patient and family deal with terminal diagnosis, treatment and family issues.

Lifeline is a 24-hour telephone personal response system, which allows access to emergency care at the push of a button. Monthly charges include lease of equipment and 24-hour monitoring services.

Home Care provides care for all people in the community, regardless of their ability to pay for the care. Home Care staff are available to help patients resolve insurance questions. Nurses serve as case managers for private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, CHAMPUS or other coverage options. Patients can self-pay for any of the services. Those with the inability to self-pay might qualify for county funds or Regional Hospital's community funds program.