7 important Types of Homecare Services for Seniors
A home care agency is one of the best solutions for elderly citizens because it allows them to have all the care and services they would get in the hospital without leaving the comfort of their own home. But how do you know what type of homecare service to get for your dear mom or dad? In many cases, the senior’s doctor will work with the homecare provider to set up plans of care. They will explain medication administration, as well as other types of services the elderly patient needs. And, with the homecare personnel often the one taking the senior to their doctor appointments, they will have a close relationship with the doctor and keep that line of communication open. The following are a few of the types of homecare services that your senior parent or elderly family member can receive.
1. Nursing care
Elderly patients who may be ill or going through a rehabilitation period may find it significantly helpful to have a skilled registered nurse (RN) to help them on an everyday basis. Having nursing care for sick patients is also a huge relief on family members who may have had to take on the burden for quite some time. When it comes to nursing care, the nurse comes to the home and discusses with the patient and family the types of services the elderly patient needs. From there, they set up a plan of care with the doctor to provide excellent supportive care. A nurse can provide services such as taking care of wounds, giving intravenous treatments (IV), giving and supervising medications, as well as watching for side effects. Additional benefits of having nursing homecare is they can provide supportive care such as pain control and even emotional support. In the case of having a nurse come to the home, both the patient and the family are covered.
2. Physical Therapy
Home care services can provide professionals who are also trained physical therapists. Elderly patients often have impaired or weakened muscles. Because of this, they may need help to regain their strength while also working to improve range of motion in joints and to learn various exercise to keep their arthritis or other physical issues from getting worse.
3. Occupational therapy
Homecare services can send an occupational therapist to the home to help senior patients conquer problems that are keeping them from enjoying daily activities. An occupational therapist takes note of what the senior is able to do and then helps them find ways to do daily tasks like eating, bathing, dressing and handling household chores. An occupational therapist is especially helpful if the senior patient has cancer or is a recovering cancer patient.
4. Speech therapy
After a stroke, a senior may not be able to talk the way they used to. A speech therapist can regularly come to the home and help your beloved mom or dad communicate again through the use of special techniques. Additional help such as aiding with problems swallowing, may also be administered.
5. Social Workers
For seniors who may also be veterans, social workers can come to the home and provide social and emotional care for patients. Because veterans in particular deal with issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorders, case managers help with complex needs and find sources of help within the community as well. They also counsel patients on coping with the demands of illnesses and other issues that they may otherwise have trouble facing on their own.
6. Home Care Health Aids
This type of home care aid is more of a general healthcare professional. They help with personal care such as bathing, dressing, walking, and getting in and out of bed. Most aids have had special training that qualifies them to aid elderly patients in complex services without being a registered nurse. If you choose a health aid, you will need to inquire about what makes them different than a nurse.
7. Attendant Car
If your senior does not have a severe illness and is fairly mobile, you may find that attendant care is really all they need. These types of professionals help with meal prep, housekeeping, shopping and laundry. They rarely help with health care although you can speak to your home care agency directly to see if they offer supervision during medication.
In addition to the above mentioned homecare options, other homecare services may include: Nutrition and diet help, pharmacy services and medical supplies, respiratory therapy, transportation, home-delivered meals, dentists, specialists, and emergency alert services.
Choosing a homecare service is a big decision – especially when your senior has very specific needs. You will need to evaluate the needs of the senior patient before choosing a homecare agency and hiring a homecare professional.
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