Home health care for cancer patients: insights from the American Indian community.

With the confounding effects of an aging population, as well as advances in the treatment of cancers, the cure rates and associated recovery time for patients have increased. In the past, recovery from cancer treatment was often associated with extended hospital stays. However, shorter lengths of stay and the use of home health care is now the accepted standard of care. For the recovering patients, and their families, sensitivity to their cultural needs may often be overlooked given the diverse nature and background of home health care providers. Within the Indian Health Service, the cultural needs of the patients are taken into account. Through this paper we hope to provide a description of this unique program of home health care for American Indians who live on or near reservations and trust lands and Alaskan Natives who live in traditional villages.