Home healthcare has gained overwhelming popularity in the recent past. Currently, over 15 million Americans, mainly those over 65 years, prefer in-home care compared to the traditional healthcare environment, such as skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and long-term care environments. Receiving care at home allows seniors, those with disabilities, or sick persons to have their healthcare needs managed in the comfort of their homes, surrounded by loved ones.
What Is the Goal of Home Healthcare?
Home health assistance is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. Professional caregivers provide support services, allowing chronically ill patients and the aged to get the much-needed medical care without leaving their homes.
The main goal of home healthcare is to treat an injury or chronic illness: In general, home care helps you:
- Maintain your current level of function
- Get better
- Become more self-sufficient
- Regain your independence
Who Receives Home Healthcare Services?
In most cases, in-home healthcare is designed for patients recovering from disability, illness, or injury. Also, the services are provided for people with chronic conditions, such as:
- Cancer
- Heart failure
- Diabetes
- HIV/AIDS
- Hypertension
In-home care is also provided to people with physical or cognitive disabilities, mainly to help them complete their daily activities.
What Services Are Offered Through Home Healthcare?
People who receive home healthcare have different needs based on their specific disease, injury, or physical condition. The most common services provided through in-home care include:
- Giving reminders or help to take medication.
- Providing assistance with ambulation — Moving from bed to wheelchair or chair.
- Help with basic activities of everyday living, such as dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting.
- Offering assistance with changing and dressings of wounds.
- Maintaining a clean and safe home environment.
- Giving help in using various technological devices, such as blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and adaptive equipment.
What Are the Different Types of Home Healthcare?
The range of health services that a patient can receive within their home environments is limitless. On most occasions, care ranges from specialized medical services to nursing care, based on an individual patient's situation.
The most common home healthcare services include:
- Doctor Care: A doctor visits the patient at home, diagnoses, and treats the illness. They also make periodic follow-up visits.
- Nursing Care: A registered nurse works in consultation with a doctor when providing ostomy care, intravenous therapy, wound dressing, administering medication, and pain control, among other services.
- Medical Social Services: Patients receive clinical counseling at home.
- Different Types of Therapies: Patients receive physical, speech, or occupational therapy at home.
- Basic Assistance: A homemaker helps with household chores and tasks, including meal preparation, grocery shopping, and laundry.
If you have a loved one recovering from a disability, injury, or illness, you should consider home healthcare. They will receive supportive care in the comfort of their home, which is vital in facilitating faster recovery. Contact a home healthcare service for more information.
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