Whether you are recognizing your personal need for home health care or you are exploring the field for a relative, you should recognize that not all of these services are the same. Knowing the different options available can help to alleviate some of the confusion and direct you toward the choice that is best for your situation.
Around-the-clock Care
When you have a relative who suffers from a serious medical condition or who is a danger to him or herself when alone, you may need to opt for a registered nurse who is with this person at all times. The nurse may move into the house in these scenarios. In other situations, one nurse will spend the day with your relative, and another person will come at night.
Day Care or Night Care
Other individuals need senior care only during the day. For example, they may need assistance when it comes to portioning out their medications, or they may not have the ability to leave the house without help. The elderly caregiver is unlikely to dwell in the home and will likely have regularly scheduled hours. On the same note, you may opt for night care only. Maybe your relative is fine during the day but suffers from aggravated symptoms at night. It is also possible that your relative gets up during the night and engages in dangerous behavior, such as walking down the stairs or turning on the stove, while still asleep.
Part-time Care
In some cases, individuals are in need of someone to assist during parts of the day. These individuals may need some sense of companionship coupled with medical services. Sometimes, home health care providers spend their time playing games with the client or watching favorite television shows with them. In other cases, the provider may offer a medical service, such as physical therapy, that the client needs to have on a regular basis.
Specific Needs
In other scenarios, clients have specific needs that must be addressed on a regular basis that they cannot take care of by themselves. For example, these home health care workers may arrive to take them to the grocery store or to help them with bathing. Some people may need assistance taking care of chores around the house to ensure that their homes are kept up in a safe and clean way. Looking into different services can help you and your family determine what is needed.
Home health care is a diverse field, but not everyone realizes that. If you have ideas of what this field entails, consider exploring a bit more. By doing so, you can finally recognize that hiring a professional is the right decision for your loved one. Are you interested in learning more?
