All You Need to Know About Home Nursing

Home nursing service becomes a necessity when your loved ones or elderly parents need extra medical care due to varied reasons such as ageing, underlying diseases, risk of falls, etc. In such a critical situation, you allow a nurse visits your home to offer specialised care to your old parents. Thus, having the right help is helpful not just for the patient but also for the rest of the family. 

If your elderly parents or a family member needs someone who can oversee them 24/7, then home care nursing can be a great option. You would not have to constantly worry about them, especially when you are at the office or somewhere else.

Read on as we help you identify the signs that indicate that it is the right time to arrange home nursing care for parents. Furthermore, you will also understand the home nursing definition, how home nursing services will take responsibility for a patient’s total care and also about its coverage in health insurance.

Scroll down the screen to understand the ins and outs of home care nursing. 

8 Signs Your Parents Need at Home Nursing Care

Sometimes, some early signs of our elderly parents’ declining health indicate that they need urgent medical health attention. If they get medical care at home at that time, they can be saved from any other serious health loss. In case your parents are showing the following signs, maybe it is time that you consider home nursing care services:

They are Diagnosed with a Serious Illness

Have your patients been diagnosed with a serious illness? Do they find it difficult to visit the hospital every now and then? If yes, then you should consider the services of a nurse for home care to better manage your parents’ health routine. Trained professionals can offer home health care for serious ailments, i.e. heart failure, diabetes, stroke, COPD, and Alzheimer’s diseases. You can safeguard your parents' well-being with worthy nursing services at home. 

They are not able to Go Out of the House

Do your ageing parents require a wheelchair, walker, or crutches to go from one room to another or within the home? If yes, then they probably need nursing care at home. Consequently, they will get someone who can help them with utmost care and concern in their day-to-day work.

They have Got a Fracture

Fracture or the risk of falls is the most common issue with ageing parents. If your parents have got hurt or they are at risk of falls, you should not leave them alone. They need the support of a nurse even for doing seemingly menial activities. 

They don’t Participate in Communication

If your elderly parents  stop being social or communicating, this can be an alarming symptom of depression or high blood pressure. You should not overlook this sign. Do not leave them alone. You should arrange a nurse for their care at home. 

They have Taken the Wrong Medicines in the Past  

Have your parents taken the wrong medicines in your absence? Taking the wrong medicine or taking the incorrect dose can be dangerous. It is a crucial time to arrange home nursing and take care of the timing of their medications.

They are Forgetful

Have you noticed your parents becoming forgetful? If yes, it is recommended that you do not ignore it, as it could be an early sign of dementia. They need a nurse who can take care of them in your absence. 

They've Lost Weight 

If your ageing parents have lost a considerable amount of weight within a short time period, it might signal their declining health. You should see this as a warning sign. 

They are Bedridden 

Are your old parents bedridden? If yes, leaving them alone at home can be unsafe for a number of reasons. They need your help to eat the food, drink water or take medicines. If you cannot be present for them all the time, it is recommended that you arrange nurses for home care. 

There is no denying that home nursing services can be beneficial for your ageing parents, especially if you are not in a position to help them yourself. If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, you should face the fact that your parents need home care.

Benefits of Home Nursing Care Services

Home nursing meaning and its benefits for ageing parents can’t be defined in a few words. Experienced nurses are efficient in supporting your elderly parents to live comfortably as well as having safe and secure lives. They help them with a variety of their daily needs, such as dressing, bathing, eating, and taking medicines. Read on to understand the benefits of at home nursing care for ageing parents or an unwell family member:

1. Reduce the Risk of Hospitalisation: Home nursing is given when you identify early symptoms of health loss in your elderly parents.  Home nurses can play a significant role in reducing the chances of their hospitalisation. They help them in their daily activities and offer them on-time medications. In this way, the patients may start to show signs of recovery from their serious illness.

2. Enhance a Hygienic Atmosphere: Old parents, especially those who have recently undergone surgery, are more exposed to infections. Home nurse means that your parents will be given a hygienic environment because they are over-sensitive to infections due to their recent surgery or any other serious health conditions.

3. Personalised Assistance: What can be more comfortable for your old parents than personalised home nursing assistance? Either you or they can tell the choices in ongoing medical treatment at home. This will help them to gain physical strength once again. They will have a better chance to recover faster. 

4. Cost-effective: If you compare in-home care costs with hospital charges and other tests, you will find a huge difference. Home nursing care services are cost-effective if you want to offer comfortable medical treatment to your patients at reasonable rates. Don't worry! Most professionals would not compromise on quality when offering services. In most cases, professional home care services are as per the hospital standards.

5. Safe Environment: While you can create a physically safe environment for your parents, like shifting them to the ground floor room for an easy entrance and exit, making the bathroom floor skid-free, etc., who will take care of them at every step when you are not at home? With the right home nursing services, you can help your parents be well lookedafter in a safe and secure environment. 

Over to You

When you do not want the trouble of hospitalisation but want to provide your old parents with the best healthcare, then at home nursing care can be the ideal option for you. Though home nursing services are costly, they are less expensive than the physical and mental well-being of your loved ones. 

The best way to manage the medical expenses of home nursing is with health insurance coverage. The coverage of your health insurance plan depends on the kind of policy that you have chosen. Care Health Insurance offers comprehensive coverage with features like post-hospitalisation, domiciliary hospitalisation, day care treatment, and in-patient nursing care are available. Investing in the right health insurance plan for you and your parents can save the whole family from the burden of unforeseen heavy medical expenses. However, you must ensure if your parents’ health insurance policy covers post-discharge expenses including home nursing treatment costs.

>> Also Read: How to Choose the Right Health Insurance for Parents?

Disclaimers: 

1. The above information is for reference purposes only: Policy Assurance and Claims at the underwriter's discretion.

2. All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.