One of the challenges of caring for seniors who need constant medical attention is that they are sometimes reluctant to leave their homes. They would insist that they will get sicker if they stay in a hospital. To solve that, providers can instead bring the care to these patients. But how do these home health care services work? Let’s take a closer look.
What Are Home Health Care Services?
As the name implies, home health care services are any medical care and intervention service done in the patient’s home. The service provider delivers a comprehensive care program to the patient, including setting up medical equipment in their place. Additionally, providers give support services like counseling, companionship, and even housekeeping.
These services can either be short or long-term. Patients recovering from illness or treatment usually use short-term services. On the other hand, those who have chronic diseases can opt for long-term options. This is also the one many seniors often choose.
The Benefits Of Home Health Care Services
At this point, you might still be unsure whether home health care would be better than institutional care. But it has several key benefits that might be better suited to your elderly loved one’s needs and wishes.
A Familiar Place
As has been mentioned above, seniors can feel uncomfortable when staying in a nursing facility. This could potentially affect their health and aggravate their sickness. By having the care program in a place they are most familiar with, they feel more at ease and be receptive to treatment.
Greater Independence
Another concern that many seniors have when staying in nursing facilities is that they can feel restricted. Through home health care, they have a greater level of freedom to do things they like. That independence will contribute a lot to their well-being and help them recover faster.
Greater Convenience
With home health care, elderly patients don’t have to deal with the various hospital protocols. All the resources are allocated to one person. Additionally, family members won’t have to worry about frequent trips to and from the care facility.
Personalized Care
Some seniors might require a lot more attention than other patients. They might also have special medical requirements. Opting for home health care will ensure that they get that attention constantly. Beyond customized medical care, home health care can be tailored to suit the patient’s wishes and help them recover on their own terms.
The Types Of Home Health Care Services Available
Different elderly patients will have different needs. As such, when signing up for home health care services, you need the right type for your elderly loved one. Here are some of the most common ones that you can assess.
Skilled Nursing Care
This is probably the most common type of home health service that you will encounter. Here, a nurse is assigned to care for the patient for long-term care. Depending on the arrangement, the nurse can come in the morning and leave at night. They might also live with the senior if the latter requires round-the-clock care.
Skilled nurses can do a wide variety of medical procedures depending on the patient’s condition. Some of the common ones that they provide are:
- Medication management
- Intravenous therapy management
- Operation and maintenance of medical equipment (ventilator, catheter, feeding tubes)
- Wound dressing and care
- Monitoring vital signs
Aside from these general duties, the home healthcare nurse can handle specialized medical procedures based on the patient’s conditions. Any specialized equipment that the nurse might need is either given by the care provider as part of the service or procured separately by your family.
At-Home Physician Care
If your elderly loved one requires more advanced medical care but doesn’t want to leave home, providers can also offer at-home physician services. In this one, a licensed physician will visit the senior periodically to administer treatment. They may also drop by to review their condition.
Home Therapy Sessions
Another situation where your elderly relative might want to opt for home health care services is during therapy sessions. After all, traveling to and from the hospital just for these sessions can be a tiring experience for them.
Health care providers can facilitate a wide variety of home-based therapy programs. Some of the common categories they handle include:
- Physical therapy: These sessions help improve mobility following surgery or injury. Seniors might also opt for it to overcome age-related mobility problems.
- Speech therapy: This one doesn’t just cover resolving speech issues. It can also help seniors who might have swallowing problems or cognitive difficulties.
- Occupational therapy: In this therapy session, the therapist can help seniors with disabilities relearn how to do various daily activities.
Since these therapy sessions are done at home, seniors get greater freedom in participating in them. With that, they can also recover faster and at their own pace.
Personal Care And Companionship
Aside from medical support, home health care services can also provide patients non-medical care. For this type of service, the goal is mainly to help elderly patients do their daily activities. This service is aimed towards those who wish to be more independent even with their condition.
Assistance with personal self-care is one of the common services that you will find in this category. Nursing aides will help the senior patient with activities like bathing, dressing up, and grooming. They might also assist in moving the patient around the house, like transferring from their beds to a wheelchair.
Aside from directly assisting the patient, the caregiver may perform housekeeping duties. For example, they might help in meal planning to ensure that the patient follows their diet. They can also accompany patients to appointments.
Lastly, home caregivers can provide companionship. They join the senior patient in doing activities they like or just being there for them to talk to. That is particularly important, as it can help older patients get over their illnesses.
What You Should Expect With Home Health Care Services
One concern you might have when signing up your elderly loved one to a home health care service is how they will respond to the caregiver. Here, you don’t have to worry. Caregivers know how to effectively engage with senior patients and assist them in a way they will be most comfortable with.
Caregivers are also very respectful of the home rules that you have set. With that, they will be able to integrate into your home. You can discuss these things with them further to help them formulate a care plan that would best fit your home setup.
At Amavi, we have made it our mission to provide senior patients with great quality care right in the comforts of their homes. Contact us today so we can make the necessary preparations and send over our team to your place.