Some insurance plans, including Medicare, require a patient who is receiving home health care to be "homebound."  This does not mean that they must be bed bound!

A patient is considered homebound when:

• Leaving home requires a considerable and taxing effort for the patient.
• The patient usually requires assistance to leave the home.
• Leaving the home is usually related to a medical reason (such as appointments) and non-medical trips are infrequent and of short duration.

A patient who is able to drive independently, shop or engage in normal outdoor activities is not considered homebound under Medicare guidelines.