When Should I Know That My Family Member Needs to Get Professional Skilled Home Healthcare Services?
Choosing the correct time for a family member to get skilled home healthcare can be an extremely difficult decision for many families. Most elderly people want to continue living at home so they can maintain their routines and be close to their memories. However, when an elderly person has more complicated medical needs, skilled care at home is generally safer and better than other forms of home care. At Angel Care Inc. Home Care Agency, we help families throughout Brooklyn identify the signs and make sense of the point in time when skilled home healthcare may be required.
What Are Skilled Home Healthcare Services?
Skilled home healthcare services are medical services that are given to patients by licensed nurses under a doctor’s orders. Skilled care is different from PCA (Personal Care Assistant) or HHA (Home Health Aide) because skilled care requires specialized knowledge, skills and licensure to perform. The goal of skilled home care is to give an elderly person high-quality medical care while staying comfortable in their own home.
How Do I Identify If My Elderly Family Member Needs Skilled Home Care?
- After a Hospital Stay or Surgery
Many times after a hospital stay, an elderly person will have additional medical needs to safely recover. These could include but are not limited to, wound care, managing medications, monitoring vital signs and preventing complications. All of these tasks decrease the chance of having to go back to the hospital. - Managing Chronic or Complicated Medical Conditions
Elderly individuals who live with chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, COPD, or other diseases requiring constant medical intervention, benefit from regular monitoring and medical treatment. Skilled nurses can assist in managing symptoms, providing treatment, and coordinating with doctors. - Managing Prescription Medications
If your elderly family member has difficulty taking their prescription medications — forgetting to take them, taking too much or too little, or experiencing negative reactions to medications — then a skilled nurse can provide the assistance your family member needs to safely take their prescribed medications. - Needing Wound Care or Medical Treatments at Home
Wounds that cannot heal on their own, pressure ulcers, injections, IV therapy, or catheter care require specialized medical treatment. Skilled home care provides the safe and sanitary conditions for these types of treatments. - Noticing Any Changes in Their Health or Function
Weight loss, frequent falls, confusion, or decreased ability to move about normally may indicate a senior needs to be medically monitored more closely. Skilled nurses can monitor your elderly family member for any changes that may be occurring and can adjust their care plan if necessary to stop the progression of decline.
The Emotional Advantages of Skilled Home Healthcare
Generally, being able to receive medical care in the comfort of one’s own home can help reduce stress and anxiety for the elderly. The familiarity of their home provides the elderly with emotional security, supports their healing, and provides them with a greater degree of control over their well-being. For families, knowing that their elderly family member is receiving high-quality, caring home skilled care can bring families peace of mind.
Skilled Nursing Services with a Human Touch in Brooklyn
At Angel Care Home Care Agency, our skilled nursing services are provided with kindness, respect, and personalized care. Our agency works closely with physicians, families, and caregivers to ensure each client receives the right amount of care, at the right time.
Whether you’re not sure if your elderly family member is a candidate for skilled home healthcare, our knowledgeable staff in Brooklyn will help you evaluate what your elderly family member needs and develop a care plan that will promote your elderly family member’s independence, safety, and overall quality of life at home, where it truly matters. 💙
Understanding the differences among PCA (Personal Care Assistant), HHA (Home Health Aide), and Skilled Nursing Services is necessary to making the proper decision about the amount of assistance that will be required to support your family member. At Angel Care Home Care Agency in Brooklyn, New York, we provide our clients' families with personalized in-home care support based upon their individual needs. Each of these forms of assistance is intended to address the varying levels of care that a family may need, while enabling the elderly to continue living safely at home. What Is a Personal Care Aide (PCA)? A Personal Care Aide (PCA) focuses on assisting with the daily living activities of the elderly through non-medical means. The PCA assists the elderly who need support, yet do not require direct medical care. The types of services typically included within PCA assistance are: Assisting with bathing, grooming and dressing Providing assistance with toileting and mobility Light housekeeping Preparation of meals Support through companionship and emotional support PCA services allow elderly adults to maintain their independence, and play a significant role in decreasing loneliness and improving emotional well-being. What Is a Home Health Aide (HHA)? Home Health Aides (HHAs) offer support with both personal care and basic health related support. In addition to the training HHAs receive, they have the ability to assist with activities that extend beyond those offered in a typical PCA setting. Some of the services that may be provided by a Home Health Aide include: All PCA-level support Monitoring vital signs Supporting the elderly adult in performing prescribed exercise programs Reminders to take medication Identifying and reporting potential health issues Home Health Aid services are commonly recommended for elderly adults recovering from illness, experiencing chronic health issues, or requiring ongoing close health supervision while continuing to reside in their home. What Are Skilled Nursing Services? Skilled Nursing Services are medical services that are provided by licensed nurses under the direction of a physician. Elderly adults with complex medical needs require Skilled Nursing services. Services that are typically provided through Skilled Nursing include: Administration of medications and injections Wound care and post surgical care Management of chronic diseases IV therapy Performing health assessments and coordinating care Skilled Nursing Services are commonly utilized when an elderly adult has experienced a hospitalization or requires ongoing medical care due to a severe medical condition. How Do I Choose the Correct Type of Home Care? The correct type of home care will depend on the elderly adult's physical health, medical requirements, and the degree of independence they have. Some elderly adults begin with PCA services and later transition into HHA or Skilled Nursing services, depending on the changing needs of the elderly adult. Others may have a combination of services being provided to them simultaneously. At Angel Care Home Care Agency, we assess each client individually, and develop a customized care plan that meets the needs of the elderly adult, ensures their safety and comfort, and brings peace of mind to the family members in Brooklyn. Trustworthy Home Care Services Provided Throughout Brooklyn We provide PCA, HHA, and Skilled Nursing Services throughout Brooklyn. Our goal is to provide high-quality care that supports the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of the elderly adult. If you are uncertain which home care option best fits your family member's needs, Angel Care Home Care Agency is available to help you, and your family, navigate this process, and provide professional support to enable your family member to live safely, and confidently in their own home. 💙
