Is it Time to Consider Home Care?
There are more than 65 million Americans who are forced to juggle the daily demands of home, work, children, and caring for an aging, ill, or disabled loved one. Trying to do all of this can be quite overwhelming. It’s can be nearly impossible to manage busy families and lives while making difficult medical decisions. Often, the demands lead to a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion known as caregiver burnout. Many people struggle with the idea of hiring someone else to help. They may feel like they are failing their loved one if they fail to do all of the hard work themselves. Alternatively, they may fear welcoming a stranger into their home to provide vital medical care.
If you are struggling to care for a loved one, put those fears and worries aside. Hiring an in-home nurse offers numerous benefits both for you and your beloved family member. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. In doing so, you are taking an important step in ensuring the best possible care for the person you love. If you are still on the fence, keep reading! You will discover a few of the many benefits of having an in-home nurse.
An In-Home Nurse Can Be There When You Can't
No matter how much you would like to, you can’t always be there when a loved one needs help. Even if they live with you, you still need to leave to go to work, take the kids to school, go grocery shopping, and sometimes even take a bit of time for yourself. Moreover, if your loved one lives on their own, you can’t always be there to care for them, either. You have to take care of your own home, after all! When you hire an in-home nurse, you have someone who can help when you can’t be there. This gives you peace of mind and ensures that your child, parent, or other family member receives the proper care when you are away.
Home Care Supports Activities of Daily Living
While in-home caregivers provide a wide range of medical services, they are also there to help with activities of daily living. They can help with dressing, bathing, grooming, and much more. In doing so, they are able to help preserve your loved one’s dignity and help them enjoy a good quality of life while ageing at home.
Nurses Provide Skilled Care
You are doing a great job of taking care of your loved one! However, there are areas where proper medical training and professionalism make a world of difference. In-home nurses are licensed and certified experts who have undergone extensive training to ensure that they can provide care that is equal to the care your loved one would receive in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
In-home care providers know how to properly use all sorts of medical equipment and can administer medications safely. They are also trained on how to watch out for potential problems and will notify you if any issues arise. Nurses are much more capable of meeting complex medical needs, so you’ll never have to worry about whether or not you are doing something wrong.
Nurses Can Handle Medication Management
Many elderly, ill, and disabled people are required to take numerous medications. If your loved one is on multiple prescriptions, trying to manage them all can be confusing. Home healthcare providers have the knowledge and training to ensure that all medications are taken properly and at the right times. They can also watch out for potential drug interactions. This can be extremely helpful when someone is taking medications perscribed by multiple doctors.
An in-home nurse carefully monitors patients for side effects and other complications from medication. In many ways, they have seen it all and know exactly when there is a serious problem versus when something minor is going on.
Home Care Providers Help With Light Household Chores
When a home healthcare provider puts on her scrubs each morning, she expects to do more than just administer medication and check vital signs. She also plans to lend a hand with light household chores, such as vacuuming or doing laundry. An in-home nurse isn’t someone who will deep clean your ailing mother’s home. However, she is someone who will help with day-to-day tasks that your loved one may struggle with. This takes some of the burden off you! Additionally, ensures that your family member is living in a safe, healthy environment.
Provide Compassionate Companionship For Your Loved One
Loneliness is a huge problem that many elderly, ill, and disabled people face. They often spend considerable amounts of time alone, which can be detrimental to both their mental and physical health. People stay healthier when they have social interaction on a regular basis. An in-home nurse can help with that!
Your loved one’s nurse can become a trusted friend who is there to go for walks, play card games, watch movies, enjoy meals, and more. They can also accompany your loved one to medical appointments or take them out to run errands. Underneath their scrubs, in-home nurses are people who deeply care about helping others. They enjoy providing compassionate companionship to those who need it most.
Conclusion
Caring for a loved one who is elderly, disabled, or ill is mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting at times. Trying to do it all on your own will likely lead to caregiver burnout. By hiring an in-home nurse, you can ensure that your loved one receives the care they need without running yourself ragged. These selfless professionals are there to lend a hand and can make life easier both for you and for your beloved family member.
Author Bio: Adela Ellis is a graduate of the University of Arizona, a travelling nurse, and an ambassador for Infinity Scrubs. She enjoys working with different medical professionals and patients from all over the USA and took up blogging to share her experiences in the field.
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