In-home care is for elderly or sick individuals who need additional medical assistance and emotional support but do not want to leave the comfort of their home.
Prospective patients should consider their needs and preferences when determining if in-home care is right for them. Some choose in-home care as a way to regain their independence and take the responsibility off of loved ones who serve as caregivers. Others may need in-home care, particularly if other family members are not able to be there for them and perform certain functions, as needed.
A range of services is included with in-home care, including assistance with eating, bathing, and getting dressed. It may also include medical services, such as checking the patient’s symptoms, ensuring the patient takes their medication as directed, and providing education to patients on how to properly take care of themselves.
Benefits of In-Home Care
There are many benefits of in-home care. Each individual who is considering in-home care should determine how it can benefit them. In general, in-home care is more affordable and convenient than care offered within a facility or hospital. Each in-home care plan is also tailored for the individual patient, and there is a wide range of services it might include.
Although each patient has a unique experience, there are certain benefits that are more common. The following are the three primary benefits elderly and sick patients receive when they choose in-home care.
Assistance with Daily Activities
Perhaps the main purpose of in-home care professionals is to assist patients with daily activities. This can include just about any Activity of Daily Living (ADL). The more common functions an in-home care professional may assist with include:
- Eating and nutrition
- Daily hygiene
- Getting dressed
- Using the bathroom
- Physical activity
In-home care professionals assist patients with their daily diet. It is essential for elderly individuals and those who are dealing with a chronic illness to remain strong through proper nutrition. Strong muscles and bones help to prevent a fall and prevent injury if a fall does occur.
Daily hygiene is another important part of in-home care. The reality is that the older we get the more difficult it becomes to keep up with hygiene. In-home care professionals help patients with tasks such as bathing, getting dressed, and even keeping a neat and attractive hairstyle. They also can assist with oral and skincare as well.
A major concern for elderly individuals is muscle and bone atrophy. When atrophy occurs, it increases the risk of serious injury. In-home care professionals help patients remain strong, mobile, and coordinated. They also help patients with their endurance. This helps patients keep an active and healthy routine, which improves the quality of life and can prevent physical and mental health complications.
Specialized Healthcare
Since no two people are the same, the services offered with in-home care are tailored for the individual patient. In-home care seeks to improve quality of life and help with good long-term health. In doing so, in-home care workers understand the importance of treating the patient’s specific needs.
A common misconception is that in-home care is only designed to help patients with their physical needs. However, in-home care offers many different ways to improve the quality of life of the patient. For some, this may include arts and crafts and other relaxing and fun activities. For others, social interactions and conversations are most important.
In finding the right treatment plan, the in-home care team will take a close look at all areas of the patient’s daily life. This may include medications they are required to take, mental health complications they may deal with, and activities they enjoy. They then use this information to create the best treatment plan possible.
As the patient’s needs change, so does the treatment plan. Being adaptable and considerate of the patient and their family’s needs as they evolve is essential to quality in-home care.
Notably, in-home care is able to customize the healthcare plan offered as it takes place in the comfort of the patient’s home, rather than in a facility in which patients receive similar care plans.
Round-the-Clock Supervision
Many believe that their only choice for a loved one who requires round-the-clock care is a facility or hospital because they are under the impression that in-home care only takes place on a daily schedule.
However, this is not the case. In-home care can offer 24/7 supervision. This means patients who require more extensive supervision can get the care they need, regardless of the time of the day or night.
Of course, not every in-home care patient requires round-the-clock supervision. Some patients may prefer scheduled service, particularly those with less severe needs. As discussed, every patient has a care plan specifically tailored for them, and in-home care professionals can be available around the clock to ensure patients receive the care they need.
In addition to the amount of supervision offered, the type of supervision may vary. Whereas some in-home care patients may only need assistance in taking their medication and physical therapy, others may need more extensive supervision. This might include help getting up, getting clean, and getting dressed in the morning.
Learn More from the In-Home Care Specialists
Comfort Home Care offers in-home care for elderly or sick patients and their families who need additional physical and emotional assistance. We tailor each care plan for the patient and their family, considering all of the needs and preferences each patient has.
If you are interested in learning more about what in-home care is and want to find out about the benefits it can offer you or an elderly or sick loved one, then reach out to us today. We can answer any question you may have and provide you with all of the information you need to make an informed decision about in-home care.
