Home health services are now becoming popular as a response to the growing need for trained medical personnel to attend to family members’ needs for care and attention. The services can be given to the elder or to a family member who has just returned home from hospital treatment but still needs direct medical attention to monitor the condition. With home health services, the home can become an extension of the hospital in terms of care, attention, support and expertise. Here, high level of medical assistance and quality care are given at the most convenient and comfortable place – the home.
There are many home health services that can be availed of. Most hospitals already provide such services when requested by patients. These services include the following:
1. Professional Services
These services include the traditional nursing care and attention, occupational, speech and physical therapy, health aides or caregivers and social workers. As these professionals practice their profession in your home, they will also provide the necessary education to the patient for better understanding of the illness and how to best recover from such.
The medical personnel are trained in all aspects of patient care and they know the specific treatment and attention needed at the given time. This is what makes home health services different from ordinary care giving services. The medical expertise assures you of high level of quality and experience in handling different medical situations.
2. Pharmaceuticals and Infusion Therapy
Skill and compassion go together as trained medical personnel administer home health services to your loved one. The treatments can include transfusions, pain management, antibiotic care and chemotherapy. The treatments include the practice of psychology for patient preparedness and acceptance. This is the expertise that only trained medical personnel can provide and this is part of the home health services given by reputable agencies.
3. Hospice
Pain control, symptom management, bereavement and other needs for those who have terminal conditions are given as part of home health services. Compassion and care are always present to help families cope with difficult situations.
4. Respiratory Care
Since respiratory system illnesses are delicate and would need the expertise of certified respiratory therapists, this is included in the home health services provided by agencies and hospitals. This allows a comprehensive approach to the treatment of the condition with the therapeutic procedures administered with utmost care and expertise.
5. Management of Chronic Illnesses
Conditions that include asthma, pulmonary disease, coronary failure, wound care, cystic fibrosis and diabetes would need expert management. You cannot just entrust your loved one to somebody who does not understand the nature of these diseases. It is best to have personnel to administer all necessary treatments to help ease the condition and at the same time practice good psychology for patient understanding. This is one of the home health services that require high level of patient attention.
With home health services, you can make your ailing or old family member enjoy the comforts of the home and not dwell too much on the sickness. Hospital setup can sometimes add to the negative psychological condition and can make the situation worse. With the home environment, personalized and sincere attention is given as part of home health services that you can avail for your loved one.