Caring for an aging parent or a family member who is recovering from surgery or illness can take considerable time and effort. It takes a balancing act to care for family members personally, earn a living, care for children, and fulfill other responsibilities. It requires compassion and efficiency to make sure they take their medications on time or show up during their medical appointments. Caring for family members often requires patience, as they become increasingly dependent on you for their needs.
At times, aging parents or family members with physical or mental conditions may need specialized care that goes beyond your knowledge or skill. When this occurs, you and other family members would need to consider several options to provide them with the best care that is suitable to your ailing family member and others as well.
Compared to nursing home facilities, home care services are the best solution for family members who require constant medical care and special needs. In-home healthcare allows family members to age or recover from illness in the comfort of their own homes with as few modifications to their lifestyle as possible. It also allows family members to recuperate in a familiar and supportive environment with a trained professional’s assistance. Apart from care, their presence and expertise can also provide the entire family peace of mind.
How A Home Health Nurse Could Help Your Family
A home health nurse like those from Home Nursing With Heart can provide several benefits to family members in need of assistance. At the same time, they also assure concerned families of the following:
Assistance From A Trained Healthcare Professional
Hiring a trained professional to care for our loved ones can give us peace of mind. A home health nurse is often a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN). They can assist aging parents or take care of chronically ill, disabled, or mentally impaired family members.
Some of the typical duties of a home health nurse include:
- Taking vital signs throughout the day.
- Ensuring your loved one takes their medications on time.
- Perform complicated medical treatments, such as inserting IVs, gastronomic feeding tubes, and catheters.
- Post-operative care, such as changing wound dressings and monitor healing.
- Educate patients and other family members on home healthcare procedures.
- Suggest possible tools or devices that can aid recovery.
Apart from their nursing license, they may also have additional qualifications to provide the best care and assistance possible. Those who care for seniors receive specialized training in treating chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and multiple sclerosis. Thus, having trained professionals in your home ensure they receive quality healthcare.
Affordable Personalized Care
Aside from providing medical care, a home health nurse can also serve as a thoughtful caregiver for your loved ones. Depending on the needed amount of care, they can provide 24-hour assistance for day-to-day activities such as eating, dressing, toilet, personal hygiene, getting in and out of bed, and bathing. They can also come in at certain times of the day and charge by the hour, making it a cost-effective alternative to a nursing home facility.
Faster Recovery
Having someone with extensive medical knowledge and focused attention can help family members recover from surgery or illness faster. Besides providing physical and medical assistance, a home health nurse also provides emotional support.
They can also help educate family members on possible physical or mental changes that can occur due to the illness and provide an estimated time for recovery. A home health nurse may even suggest possible tools and procedures such as home modifications, changes in diet and lifestyle, or the use of mobility tools to help patients regain their health and independence quickly.
Companionship
A home health nurse can ease feelings of loneliness and isolation that seniors experience when they live alone. As ideal companions, they offer their eyes and ears for engaging in conversation and extend their hands to assist the elderly in their daily tasks. They can become their socializing buddy as they encourage aging parents to participate in the community or explore their passions that can impact their overall health and well-being.
Assist in Healthcare Paperwork
Aside from providing physical assistance and emotional support, a home health nurse can also assist you in filing the necessary paperwork. They can explain to you the different versions of Medicare and its respective coverage for home healthcare, medications, and medical equipment such as crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs. They act as life care managers to guide you through the healthcare system and help benefit your family members.
Peace of Mind
Often, family members are reluctant to turn over responsibilities to someone else due to trust issues and personal doubts. However, entrusting the care of loved ones to trained professionals who provide medical assistance and constant companionship can give every family member peace of mind.
That’s because a home health nurse can make sure that the patient is safe, eating right, and taking medications on time. Furthermore, they offer good companionship—something that can significantly improve the overall wellbeing of a loved one.
Conclusion
A home health nurse serves several roles in a family. As caregivers, they lend their training and experience to those in need of medical care. They also function as ideal companions to assist in daily activities. Their presence eases loneliness, and their compassion and patience provide emotional support for faster recovery.
Aside from those in need of medical assistance, a home health nurse also helps other members of the family. They serve as an educator to let other family members understand their loved one’s illness and how their support can help ease the condition.
A trained professional can also advise the use of helpful tools or procedures for siblings or children to recover promptly. They may even function as life care advocates who can give advice regarding healthcare benefits and how the family can claim them to support their loved ones.
All in all, a home health nurse ensures that family members in need receive the best care possible within the confines of a loving home and a supportive family.
