When your senior parent is ill or recovering from a medical event like a heart attack or a stroke, having skilled nursing care at home can help them recover. Many seniors prefer to continue their recovery at home. Especially after they are released from the hospital instead of going into a rehab facility or short-term care facility.
Seniors who recover at home have the added comfort of being in quiet and familiar surroundings where their family and friends can visit often. The comforts of home make seniors happier during recovery and can speed up their recovery.
Personalized Care Plans
Skilled nursing care at home means that seniors will have the advantage of unique care plans that address their specific needs and goals. Nurses can create comprehensive assessments of your parent’s condition to identify specific health concerns, functional limitations, and goals for care.
Continuity of Care
Skilled nursing care at home gives seniors the benefit of having one point of contact for their care. A registered nurse can manage medications, talk to their doctors, check for infection and clean incisions or wounds, and report any changes in your senior parent’s medical condition to the appropriate doctor.
Comfort and Familiarity
Seniors who can recover at home have the benefit of familiar surroundings. They can also stick to their regular routine. Peace and quiet and other intangible benefits can also make a big difference in their recovery. If your senior parent has pets, being able to be at home with them will alleviate worry and bring them joy.
Reduced Risk of Infections
Home environments typically have lower exposure to infectious pathogens compared to institutional settings such as hospitals or nursing homes. Seniors receiving skilled nursing care at home aren’t at risk of getting hospital-acquired infections and communicable diseases. This will contribute to better overall health outcomes and reducing the risk of illness-related complications. Those who are worried about Covid-19 should recover at home if at all possible.
Lower Chance Of Readmission
Having a skilled nurse at home who can catch any symptoms or signs of relapse, infection, or other medical problems. That way your senior parent will have a much lower risk of having to be readmitted to the hospital.
Support for Family Caregivers
Family members having to provide around the clock care for a senior parent who is recovering after a hospital stay can cause a lot of stress. Having a skilled nurse checking in daily can reduce a family caregiver’s anxiety. It can also prevent caregiver burnout, and ensure that the senior patient is getting the medical care they need.
No Stressful Medical Follow Ups
Often after a hospitalization, seniors need follow up medical appointments. These check for routine things such as checking incisions for signs of infection, blood pressure and other vital signs. Making sure that your senior parent is recovering the way they should is important. Having to get your senior parent up out of bed and to the doctor can be hard on both of you. With skilled nursing care, follow-ups can be done in the comfort of their own home.