There are many different types of Home Care service. Some services focus on adults, while others provide services to children and other families. Care giving takes place in the home or in a facility that is attached to a home. One type of home care service is in-home care, which means the client’s loved one is receiving care in their own home. Other types of home care services are in-home with a licensed aide, including physical therapy and occupational therapy, or in-home with a caregiver who is not a family member.
The demand for home care services is on the rise. More people are in need of short-term and long-term nursing care. As a result, qualified home care providers must be available to provide these services. Not all home care services provide the same level of care or the same type of services.
A short-term care facility may utilize an AED, an oxygen concentrator, a feeding tube and other life support equipment. These services are usually only for individuals who require emergency care. An in-home caregiver may utilize such items as a breathing machine, a ventilator and other medical devices. In some instances, the services provided are limited to the immediate family or the patient’s close friends.
Long-term services can include receiving care from a nurse, a physician, home health aides, a physiotherapist or a nurse practitioner. The services also may include long-term bedside care or palliative care, which is focused on relieving symptoms or prolonging survival. Palliative care services may be offered in conjunction with standard treatment. A specialized unit may utilize certain technologies to treat a terminally ill patient, including intensive-care artificial respirators, ventilators and specialized surgical procedures.
Long-term care services are usually offered by an inpatient hospice team. In most cases, recipients of this type of care receive continuous, around-the-clock nursing care. When a patient is admitted to a hospice team, they receive no medical treatment or medication assistance. Instead, the hospice team communicates with the family of the patient on how to help them manage the situation and to make daily living activities as comfortable as possible. Family members are also provided literature on palliative medicine, which emphasizes the importance of using the appropriate methods for relieving the suffering of someone who has become ill and has already gone through the rigors of treating their illness.
How do I get a home care license in North Carolina? Home care services also have a direct impact on the patient’s quality of life. Nursing home care provides the opportunity for the elderly to engage in activities of daily living that aid in enhancing their recovery. These include such things as grooming, cooking and bathing. The elderly who receive home care services also have the chance to participate in group activities and socialize. It is important to remember that, no matter what type of home care services a person receives, it will be supervised and administered by trained professionals.