Home Safety Tips 

Taking Care Of A Sick Loved One In The Home

Knowing that a convalescing loved one is being properly cared for in the home creates a great sense of peace of mind.  It is a well known fact that cancer patients, or those convalescing from an illness would rather be in the comfort of their own home close to family, friends, and loved ones, comfortable and secure in familiar surroundings. The development of in-home medical technologies, substantial cost savings, and patients’ preference for care in the home, have provided options to hospitalization, nursing homes and patient recovery time. Technological advances have made many new procedures, equipment and quality of patient care possible in the comfort of his or her own home, improving the quality of life. 

If you are caring for a loved one at home there are some basic things that you can do to help make things easier for all concerned.  First, determine the need for assistive devices necessary for treatment or recovery.  Is the patient at home going to require I.V.’s? Will he or she need a wheelchair or patient lift? What medical supplies need to be on hand for the care of the patient? Whether the patient is mobile or not, there are basic needs that must be met, for example, personal care, teeth brushing, bathing – the simple but necessary things that can be challenging for someone recovering from an illness. 

According to Peter S. Arno, An estimated $306 billion a year is the value of the services family caregivers provide at ‘no charge.’  That is almost twice as much as is actually spent on homecare and nursing home services combined.  Care provided for a chronically ill, terminally ill, disabled, recovering, or aged family member or friend over a year is provided by over 50 million people. The typical care provider in the home is a 46-year old woman caring for her widowed mother who does not live with her. She has a family, and a job and over 60% of family caregivers are women.

There are millions of Americans who require medical care in their homes.  As America’s elderly, aging population increases; there will be many challenges in the future for home care.  While most in home care is provided by a relative or friend, there is help available. Fortunately, there are organizations, supportive services, equipment, help and financial assistance to provide for a loved one in the privacy of his or her home.   Patients may be entitled to certain services offered by home health care agencies, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration, and commercial health insurance companies covering such requirements as injections, intravenous therapy, physical therapy, as well as wound treatment. Such services are prescribed by a physician, supportive services and are under a nurse’s care.