10 Home Health Care Myths De-Bunked: Part II
The need for homecare is growing, and so are the number of questions people have about it. In a recent blog entry, we faced five common misconceptions about home health care head-on, and now we're topping it off with five more because, when it comes to your health or that of a loved one, there is no room for compromise.
- If I get home health care, I have no say in who my caregiver should be. Caregiver compatibility is imperative due to the personal nature of homecare. When you arrange for a care professional to come into your home, you must ensure that you find someone you can trust. Each family should be matched with a caregiver with whom they are comfortable, which is why family members should must identify what they would like in a caregiver and be upfront about this with your homecare provider.
- I may need homecare, but it is unsafe to invite a stranger into my home. From a security standpoint, if you are dealing with a qualified, reputable agency, you should feel safe in arranging for help in the home. From a medical standpoint, studies show that the home can be a safer than the alternatives and not only because of the one-on-one care. One study indicated that half of infections could be linked directly to hospital care. Another study reported that, given they are seeking the appropriate treatment for their condition, patients with chronic heart disease fare better at home versus the hospital. And, ultimately, remaining home can be less stressful because it is familiar, which can foster a sense of calmness and comfort for patients.
- I only need help with basic hygiene care, so I don't qualify for homecare. However basic your needs, there should be no limit for a homecare provider to assist you. Be sure to find a home health care agency that can provide the full range of homecare, from basic peer-level companionship and hygiene assistance to highly skilled nursing and therapy.
- We had an emergency at 3 a.m., but we'll just have to wait until normal business hours to get help at home. When you and your family face an urgent situation, the last thing you want to do is wait around. Read these first time parents' story about finding newborn care at 3 a.m. Find a provider that can provide 24/7 customer service and assistance.
- Until I know exactly what we need, I don't need in-home care. You don't need to know, that's what qualified homecare professionals are here for. Just make sure any agency you turn to offers R.N. oversight on every case to ensure all of your loved one's needs (from safety, health and everything in between) are accounted for. Take this case from one of our homecare agencies as an example:
An elderly woman who was looking for basic bathing and shopping assistance was found to have been suffering from cellulitis unbeknownst to the woman's daughter and hidden under her sock - all because an R.N. is required to perform an assessment on every case, no matter what kind of assistance is being provided.
Are we missing anything, or do you have a question about home health care? Ask us, or post a comment now!