What Types of Home Care Services Are Available?

 

Whether you are looking for in home care services for yourself or for someone else, you will find that there are many different types of services that you can choose from. These can include nursing care, personal care services, and physical and occupational therapy. The cost of these services can vary significantly, so it's important to get a few estimates before you begin to search for them.

Nursing care

In-home nursing care services are a growing trend. Whether it's a long-term care need or a short-term hospital stay, these care providers can help ensure your loved one gets the quality care they need.

Home health care provides a cost-efficient means of delivering care. This includes a wide variety of medical services, including therapy, wound care, disease management, and patient education.

Unlike hospital-based care, patients are given more autonomy. They can choose to take medication at irregular times, and they have a higher degree of control over their interventions. For example, they can take antibiotics at therapeutically-appropriate intervals.

One key factor in achieving positive outcomes is communication. Communication is a challenge in a home health care setting where providers are spread out geographically. However, technology can help provide timely and important updates to both staff and patients.

Physical and occupational therapies

The goal of physical and occupational therapies for home care services is to help patients maintain their independence at home. Both therapies focus on helping patients return to a normal lifestyle, as well as reduce pain and increase mobility.

An occupational therapist can assess your ability to perform daily tasks, while a physical therapist can evaluate your level of strength, balance, and endurance. They will work with you to develop a plan to achieve your goals.

In addition to providing therapy, occupational therapists can modify your environment to make your daily tasks easier. For instance, they might install grab bars in the shower. They can also suggest equipment you need, such as bath rails.

Physical therapists may also develop an exercise program to help you strengthen your muscles. They can recommend other equipment, such as a wheelchair, to assist you with daily tasks.

Home health aide services

Home health aide services are non-medical services that enable individuals to remain in their homes. They assist clients with basic housekeeping tasks and medical care. Their services can complement other forms of home health care, such as physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.

Home health aides are a vital link between patients and other healthcare providers. During their visits, they help with light housekeeping, personal care, and medication reminders. A home health aide is a trained professional who provides support for people with disabilities and chronic illness.

Whether a client's needs are temporary or long-term, home health aide services are essential. Many home health aides work with seniors and people with cognitive impairments. In addition, a home health aide can provide companionship.

Personal care services

Personal care services for home care are available to people who need help with daily activities. If you or your loved one has a disability or difficulty with everyday activities, these services can help improve health and wellbeing.

Depending on your needs, you can hire a professional caregiver to provide in-home personal care for short-term or long-term care. A professional caregiver is fully licensed and trained. They are also able to provide companionship to help your loved one stay at home.

In-home care services may be used to assist patients who are recovering from an illness or injury, or those who are managing chronic health conditions. For example, a person recovering from surgery might need a few hours of home care each week. Others may need longer-term, 24-hour care.

Cost

Home care services are a great option for seniors. They can help seniors maintain a healthy lifestyle, prevent incidents that could cause harm, and monitor senior health and safety. However, home care services are often expensive. The cost of services will depend on the type of service, the client's need, and the provider's capacity.

The Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey estimates that the average cost of home health care services in the United States is $5,148 per month. For seniors who require around-the-clock home care, the cost can be up to $18,972 a month.

Home care services are different from nursing homes. Nursing home rates can be as high as $105,850 a year. However, the costs can be much lower for standard home care.