Types of home-based practices for Aged Care in 2022
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Hospitals can offer various services and have facilities that are useful in caring for senior patients, but nothing beats the comforts that home can offer. Being surrounded by familiar people can aid in speeding up the healing process, and provide a sense of safety. Home-based care is an innovative solution that can bring the care and expertise of professionals like nurses and doctors to a more familiar place, which greatly affects a patient’s recovery and disposition.
Definition: What is Home-Based Care?
Home-based care, or home care practices, is any kind of health service that is done in a patient’s home. This is mostly done for senior patients or those with disabilities as it is easier for them to feel comfortable. In-home services may include the following:
- Help with daily activities such as dressing and bathing
- Assistance with safely managing tasks around the house
- Companionship
- Therapy and rehabilitative services
- Short- or long-term nursing care for an illness, disease, or disability—including tracheostomy and ventilator care
Kinds of home-based practices
- Personal care and companionship – This kind of care practice enables more independence for the patient, as it is a non-medical type of care. Company and assistance in daily tasks like dressing, household chores, and meal preparation is given. This practice is also known as assistive care. Family members can also participate in this type of practice.
- Long-term nursing care – This requires a private-duty nurse to be present due to the senior patient having a chronic illness, injury, or disability which can cause them to be bedridden. Care practices for this can include assistance with mobility, ventilator care, catheter and gastronomy care, and other forms of medical care that requires professional skills. Also known as shift nursing.
- Home health care – This kind of home-based practice is Medicare-certified and requires intermittent skilled care. Patients who avail of this care usually need help with physical or occupational therapy, speech therapy, or home health aide services.
“As a family member, how can I help?”
Home care is a big shift in one’s home environment. Family members can ease the big change by giving support to their seniors and being as present as possible, as this change can cause anxiety. Assure seniors that need different kinds of care that you will be there every step of the way, making sure they are comfy and well-looked after.
References:
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/caregiving/types-of-home-health-care-services
- https://www.bayada.com/homehealthcare/what-is-homecare/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2631/
Nina Alvarez is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel. Her interests include writing, particularly about the healthcare sector and the many ways it can improve to further benefit people from all walks of life.
