Which of the following is an example of a skilled home health need?

• A. Grocery shopping
• B. Laundry
• C. Wound care
• D. Infusion therapy

Answer: (D)

Infusion therapy is a skilled home health need because it requires clinical nursing skills, not just daily living assistance. Administering IV medications, maintaining IV access, and ongoing monitoring for reactions or complications demand licensed nursing judgment, sterile technique, accurate dosing, and coordination with a physician. A nurse must assess the patient’s response, manage the infusion rate, and intervene if issues arise, all within a medical plan of care. These elements go beyond routine chores and personal support.

Grocery shopping and laundry are tasks typically handled by aides or homemaker services and do not involve medical assessment or therapy. Wound care can be skilled in cases that require specialized assessment and management, but infusion therapy clearly embodies the skilled, medically-directed care that defines a skilled home health need.