Facts About What Home Health Care Can Do
November’s National Home Care Month is a time to honor all home care aides, caregivers, and home health care nurses in your dad’s life. It’s a challenging, rewarding job with the sole purpose of helping your parent remain independent at home.
Have you ever thought about what a home health care nurse does in your community? Here are five things you may not realize about home health care services.
Home Health Care Morris County NJ – Facts About What Home Health Care Can Do
The History of Home Health Care Nurses Goes Back to Florence Nightingale
In the mid-1800’s, businessman William Rathbone and nurse Florence Nightingale established a school for nurses. These nurses were trained to go to the homes of the sick and impoverished to offer nursing care. It would take until the 1880’s for this trend to catch on in the U.S., but it wasn’t until the 1960’s that it became well known.
They Can Teach the Family How to Provide Diabetes Care
Suppose your dad has diabetes and needs insulin injections. He’s struggling with that and his diet. He can have home health care services that teach the entire family how to prepare healthy meals for him. The nurse that comes to your dad’s home can teach him how to give himself an injection and test his glucose levels.
They Help With Wound Care
Your dad had surgery or pressure sores and needs the wounds cleaned, bandaged, and checked for infection. That’s beyond your skillset, but your dad cannot do this on his own. Instead of struggling, hire a home health care nurse to clean and dress wounds.
Nurses know what to look for when it comes to proper healing versus infection. They can talk to doctors if there are problems.
They Coordinate Care With You and the Doctors
When your dad has home health care services, his home health care nurses work with his doctors and designated family members. By coordinating care, everyone is updated regarding your dad’s progress as he heals from surgery, major illness, or bone fracture.
They Can Administer IVs and Injections
You’ve been bringing your dad to the doctor’s office for blood draws to check his iron levels. Instead of making all of those trips, he can have a home health care nurse draw his blood at home and ensure it gets to the lab.
If your dad needs IV antibiotics, he can have the IV line inserted at home rather than having to go to a hospital or health clinic. If he needs steroid injections for his severe arthritis pain, nurses can administer those following the doctor’s orders.
Talk to your dad’s doctor. Once you know what services he needs at home, call our home health care agency to schedule services.
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1463031/
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Health Care Services in Morris County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
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