Sepsis and Home Care

If you are receiving home health care (also called home health services), this means that you need some medical care, but not enough to be admitted to a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

There are several advantages to receiving home care, such as you:

  • Aren’t exposed to the microbes (germs) that may circulate in the facility.
  • Have less frequent person-to-person contact with staff, volunteers, and others patients who could expose you to an infection.
  • Are in a familiar and more comfortable environment.

However, there is still a risk that you could contract an infection while you are receiving home care. Any type of infection could cause sepsis. If you are a caregiver to someone receiving home care, this information is important for you as well. Sepsis, which was often called blood poisoning, is the body’s life-threatening response to infection. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Suggested Citation:
Sepsis Alliance. Sepsis and Home Care. 2023. https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/home-care/

Updated October 25, 2023.

 

More About Home Care

Infection Risks

When people receive home care, it is because they are ill, injured, or unable to care for themselves without help. Some of those people may be at increased risk of infection because they:

  • Are very old; the immune system becomes less robust as people age.
  • Are recovering from invasive medical or surgical procedures, or childbirth; open wounds are a source for infection.
  • Have an invasive medical device, such as a urinary catheter or intravenous; breaks in the skin or entries into the body can allow bacteria to enter.
  • Have one or more chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or COPD; people with chronic illnesses may get infections more easily.
  • Have a weakened immune system; a weakened immune system makes it harder to fight infections.
  • Are immobile; staying in one place for extended periods can increase the risk of pressure injuries (ulcers). It can also contribute to pneumonia because deep breathing and exercising helps the lungs expand and air flows more easily.
  • Are malnourished; the body requires nutrients to stay strong and to keep the immune system healthy.
Infection Prevention

Infection prevention is sepsis prevention. There are some simple steps to follow that will help decrease your risk of getting an infection while you are receiving home care.

  • Ask everyone, including the healthcare providers, who enters your home to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Wash your own hands frequently, especially before touching a wound, dressing, IV, or catheter, even if you will be wearing gloves.
  • Ensure there is a clean space to keep dressing or treatment supplies and ensure that the dressing changes are done in a clean environment.
  • Eat a healthy diet.
  • Get all recommended vaccines.
  • Move about as much as you can.
  • Take all medications, including antibiotics, for the recommended length of time as prescribed.
  • Don’t share personal items, such as towel, razors, and toothbrushes to reduce the spread of germs.

If you are the caregiver of someone receiving home care:

  • If the person is incontinent of urine or stool, ensure frequent changes of their briefs or pads. Clean the skin well, but gently. Report any redness or signs of the skin breaking down in the genital area to the home health provider.
  • If the person unable to move about on their own, they need regular positioning from side to back to side so they are not staying too long in one spot. This will reduce the risk of pressure injuries (ulcers or bed sores) from forming. Inspect the skin regularly, especially the hips, coccyx (backside), and elbows. These are the areas that break down most easily.

Related Resources

Common Risk Factors for Infections in Home Care
Guide
Infection Prevention at Home
Guide
Infusiones en el hogar: Prevención de infecciones
Guide
Home Infusions: Infection Prevention
Guide
Infusiones en Domicilio: Conozca los Signos de Infección para Prevenir la Sepsis!
Video
Home Infusions: Know the Signs of Infection to Help Prevent Sepsis!
Video
Guía de zonas: Conozca los signos de infección para ayudar a prevenir la sepsis
Symptom Card
Zone Sheet: Know the Signs of Infection to Help Prevent Sepsis
Symptom Card
Sepsis and Home Care
Trifold

Sepsis and Home Care

Sepsis and Cancer
Trifold

Sepsis and Cancer

Invasive Devices
Information Guide

Invasive Devices

  • To submit this form you are required to enter your first name, last name, a valid email address and your role.

  • Submit

Cancer
Information Guide

Cancer

  • To submit this form you are required to enter your first name, last name, a valid email address and your role.

  • Submit

Aging
Information Guide

Aging

  • To submit this form you are required to enter your first name, last name, a valid email address and your role.

  • Submit

Other Topics

Aging

Sepsis can and does affect people of all ages, but people who are over 65 years old are even more susceptible to sepsis.

Invasive Devices

Devices like IVs and urinary catheters are commonplace in most healthcare facilities and with home-based infusions.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is a term used to refer to a group of chronic lung diseases related to poor airflow to and from the lungs.

Diabetes

People who have diabetes are at risk of developing wounds and sores that don’t heal well and are vulnerable to infection.

Cancer

Cancer is a term that describes several malignant diseases that can affect just about every organ and system in the body.

Amputations

Poor blood flow from sepsis or its treatments can cause amputations. Infections can also stem from associated wounds.

Dementia

Dementia causes memory loss, personality changes, and - as it progresses- your body’s ability to function physically.

HIV/AIDS

HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Joint Replacements

Joint replacements are common surgeries which can improve quality of life, but any surgery carries the risk of infection.

Kidney Failure

A major cause of acute kidney injury is sepsis. As the body is overwhelmed, organs like the kidneys can shut down.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects your brain and nervous system. Patients are at risk of developing infections.

Paralysis

Paralysis is the loss of muscle function. People with paralysis can be at higher risk of developing infections.

Parkinson’s Disease

Many chronic or progressive diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, put you at risk for developing infections.

Pressure Ulcers (Pressure Injuries)

Pressure ulcers occur when pressure causes damage to the skin. These breaks in the skin can become infected.

Surgery

Surgery is a procedure that can affect your body in many ways aside from the reason for the operation itself.

Burns

A burn is damage to your skin caused by heat, chemicals, or electricity. Burns can become infected and lead to sepsis.

Diana Winsor

My name is Diana, and I’m a survivor of sepsis. I am 77 years, hairstylist, and had raised cockatoo parrots for 30 years. My story started Mar. 16/2025 when I felt symptoms of hot, and cold chills in the morning. I worked the day before in my salon and came home feeling drained, exhausted, lower back pain began so I thought I had the flu. I fed my birds, started to change my birds cages but couldn’t finish, and basically couldn’t stand up anymore. My son came home to find me laying on the couch, and called the ambulance asap ... Read Full Story

Submit Your StoryView More Stories

Benoy Sanil

26-year-old Benoy Sanil had just graduated law school and accepted a job as attorney for the largest law firm in Florida, waiting to join the largest law firm in the nation, the U.S. Army JAG Corps. Catastrophe struck and his ACL and meniscus were torn. He underwent routine ACL/meniscus surgery under the “gold standard” in 2019. Words that haunt him to this day. Soon after surgery, he complained of symptoms of infection but his surgeon ignored him. Less than 5 days later he was admitted into the emergency room. What started as a routine surgery ended up being 6 weeks ... Read Full Story

Submit Your StoryView More Stories

Shay R.

I never thought a urinary tract infection would nearly cost me my life. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) Like many people, I believed a UTI was uncomfortable but manageable—something you treated with antibiotics and moved on from. Sepsis was not on my radar. I didn’t understand how quickly it could take over, or how quietly it could begin. In the days leading up to my hospitalization, my symptoms felt easy to explain away. My sides were sore, especially along my back and ribs, but I was working out regularly and assumed I had pulled a muscle. I felt unusually tired, ... Read Full Story

Submit Your StoryView More Stories

Zsuzsanna Fodor

In February 2020, my life changed in just three days. It started with what seemed like nothing serious. I felt unwell, weak, and with inexplicable chills. I went to seek medical help more than once, but I was dismissed. First, it was “nothing.” Then maybe the flu when fever and cough appeared. On the third day I was vomiting and I hardly had any urine, but I didn’t know it was a sign of sepsis, in fact we didn’t know sepsis existed and what it was. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn’t explain it. I thought it was ... Read Full Story

Submit Your StoryView More Stories

Lauren Gilliland

My story is very long and complicated but to keep it as simple as possible, for about two weeks I was in and out of doctor’s offices and the ER for a chronic severe sore throat. At first I thought it was strep or mono however it continued to get worse. New symptoms would pop up such as a swollen vein on my neck and a piercing chest pain in my lungs. Doctors could not figure out what was wrong with me. After being told again and again I just had a “strange virus”, on October 18th 2023 I went ... Read Full Story

Submit Your StoryView More Stories

Sepsis Alliance Connect

A virtual support community designed for the millions of people affected by sepsis.

Learn More

Home Care

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email

    Copyright ©2026 Sepsis Alliance. All rights reserved.

    3180 University Ave., Suite 310; San Diego, CA 92104

    Sepsis Alliance is a tax-exempt organization under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are deductible for computing income estate taxes.
    Sepsis Alliance tax ID 38-3110993.