Any expert support services enabling a person to live safely in their home are considered part of home care. A person who is aging and requires assistance to live independently, is managing long-term health conditions, is recuperating from a medical setback, or has special requirements or a disability may benefit from in-home care services.
Professional caregivers, including nurses, aides, and therapists, offer short- or long-term care in the home, depending on a client’s needs. Care may include everything from nursing attention to specialized medical treatments, such as laboratory workups, depending on the circumstances of each patient. Your doctor will decide on your treatment strategy and any home care you might require. Here are the different types of home health care Washington, DC.
Doctors’ care
A doctor could pay a patient a house call to identify and treat the illness(es). They may also periodically assess the necessity for home health care.
Speech, occupational, or physical therapy
Some people might need help relearning how to carry out daily tasks or hone their speech after sickness or disability. A physical therapist can develop a therapy plan to help an individual regain or boost the use of their muscles and joints. An occupational therapist can help patients who cannot carry out daily tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, and other activities due to psychomotor, social, developmental, or emotional problems. Someone with impaired speech can regain their speaking ability with the aid of a speech therapist.
Nursing care
Nursing care is the most prevalent sort of at-home care. A registered nurse will establish a treatment plan in collaboration with the doctor. Nurses help administer medication, monitor the patient’s general health, heal wounds, care for ostomies, and care for intravenous patients. Nursing care may also include pain management and other forms of medical assistance.
Home health aides assistance
Home health aides can help the individual with daily tasks like getting out of bed, moving around, showering, and clothing. Some assistants have obtained specific training to help with more specialized care while working under a nurse’s supervision.
Medical social services
Medical social workers provide different services to patients, such as counseling and finding local resources to aid in the patient’s recovery. Some social workers also act as the patient’s case manager if the patient’s medical condition is highly complex and calls for coordinating numerous services.
Nutritional assistance
Dietitians might visit patients at home to offer nutritional evaluations and recommendations supporting the treatment plan.
Companionship
Some housebound patients might need a companion to comfort and watch over them. Some companions might also help out around the house.
Basic assistance care
A homemaker or someone who helps with tasks or chores can keep the house running while a patient receives medical treatment at home. They can do this by preparing meals, doing laundry, shopping for food, and doing other housekeeping activities.
Final thoughts
Home care can facilitate safety, security, and enhanced independence through treatment provided in the security and comfort of the home. It can also simplify the management of a continuing medical condition, prevent unnecessary hospitalization and speed up recovery after an illness, injury, or hospital stay.