A Guide On How To Provide Home Care

Home-based care is ideal for patients who would want to recover at home. One of the challenges that caregivers face when providing home care is that they may not have dealt with a similar situation in the past. This extract addresses some best practices to observe when providing home care. Hopefully, it will improve the quality of home care you provide your loved one. 

Respect The Patient's Preferences

Many caregivers do not consider the patient's preferences when providing home-based care. However, it is prudent to seek the patient's opinion on the kind of care they would want to receive. Always respect their opinion without judgement or seeking an explanation. For example, you could be shocked to find out that the patient despises a specific food or room since it reminds them of a traumatic event in their life. However, if their preferences affect their healthcare, it would be wise to explore alternatives with them. 

Consult With The Patient's Doctor

Your loved one's doctor is a critical element of home care. Ideally, they should assess the home and give recommendations on how best to offer care. For instance, they will inform how to set the patient's bed, turn them in bed, prepare their meals, assist in exercise, and offer medication. The doctor will also acquaint you with the patient's illness and its progression. You can call the doctor if their condition deteriorates. 

Consider Improving Your Home When Providing Long-Term Care

In some cases, home care is a long-term arrangement. It is especially so if the patient has a long-term illness, such as cancer or Parkinson's disease, that can be managed at home. As such, you should consider renovating the house to suit the patient's needs. For example, you could lower the shelves and install ramps to ensure mobility and independence. You should also invest in medical infrastructure that can help alleviate your patient's quality of life. For instance, durable medical equipment (DME) such as wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, hospital beds, ventilators, pressure mattresses, and traction equipment will enable you to provide hospital-like care at home.  

Ensure The Patient Is Safe 

Ensure that the house is safe for your patient. Ailing people have weak immune systems. Therefore, they will quickly catch secondary illnesses caused by poor hygiene at home. Examine your home to identify the risks that the patient could be exposed to. For example, if you keep pets, pests and furs could expose the patient to allergies. If the patient has mobility issues, steep stairs could increase the risk of falls. Addressing these risks at an early stage will help keep your patient safe and comfortable. 

When providing home care, prioritise the patient's preferences, consult with the patient's doctor, improve your home and ensure patient safety.