Receiving Nursing Home Care in the Comfort of Your Own Home

Seniors who are ill or who are recovering from sickness don't have to be admitted in a nursing home to receive proper medical care. In fact, many of them would love to receive medical care in a more convenient and familiar surrounding such as their homes. And this is why in home care is such a popular option.

In home health care refers to the health care services which are provided in the senior's home, instead of a nursing home or any health care facility. With home health care, seniors not only receive the same nursing home care services as they would in a health care facility, but they tend to get better and become self-sufficient more quickly.

Skilled Nursing Services

The same nursing home care services can be provided at the senior's home because the ones providing home health care are registered nurses, the same type of people who work in a nursing home. Skilled nursing services provided at home can meet the needs of any senior patient. To ensure that the right type of care is given, in home nurses coordinate with the senior patient's physician. The different types of skilled nursing services that can be provided at the senior patient's home include the following:

-Disease Management

-Vital Signs & Glucose Monitoring

-Catheter Care

-Administration of Injections

-Medication Teaching

-Laboratory Testing

-Infusion Therapy

-Pain Management

-Wound Care

-Post-Surgical Care

Home Health Aides

Home health aides are individuals who provide assistance to senior clients with daily routines such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and other personal care needs. These individuals work under the supervision of a registered nurse.

Therapists

In home health care also includes rehabilitation services which allow for continuous medical treatment in a senior's home. Therapists coordinate with physicians in developing a plan that meets the rehabilitative requirements of senior patients to help them recover and fully function as quickly as possible. Rehabilitative services include physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

Because every senior patient has his own particular set of needs, the level of home health care provided is made according to each individual. In some instances, home health care services may be needed only during a short period of time. For example, home nurses may only need to visit a senior patient's home once or more times a week to provide nursing services which cannot be provided by other caregivers. If a senior patient lives with his family, the registered nurse may just need to instruct family members on the proper way of caring for the patient during recovery.

In such cases as when the senior client has a chronic illness or he is living alone, an in-home health care nurse may be needed to provide long-term services. They may have to provide nursing home care services on a live-in basis. This is especially necessary if the patient needs constant monitoring and care.

If your senior loved one needs long-term health care, here are some of the ways you can try to find much needed help:

-Ask for recommendations from your co-workers or friends who may have used long term home care.

-Check with your local department of health or elder care services. Home health agencies are licensed by the state and they can provide you with the list of those with deficiencies based on their inspections.

-Visit the Medicare Website and look for more information on home health care sorted by location.

The Benefits of Home health Care

Aside from receiving the same quality care as in a nursing home, seniors and their families gain many other benefits from home health care. These include:

-Receiving quality health care that is cheaper and more affordable than a nursing home.

-In home nursing care can boost the over-all well-being of senior patients. While nursing home care confines a senior patient, in home nursing care allows him to maintain daily contact with other people. These social interactions are vital in sharpening a senior's social skills and keeping him connected with the rest of the world.

-Home health care provides personalized services to senior patients, as opposed to nursing home care, which generally caters to the needs of many seniors at the same time.

-In home nursing care provides family caregivers a well-deserved break. This also keeps them from having to be absent from school or work in order to provide care for their elderly loved one.

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