Various objectives are involved in the process of home-based care. These are Medical care, Management of chronic conditions and disabilities, and Counselling and psycho-spiritual care. It is essential to understand all these aspects to choose the best care for your loved ones.
Keep patients healthy and out of the hospital
Home-based care’s primary goal is to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital. Aside from the obvious medical benefits, a good home care program can also be a social benefit.
Home-based primary care managers coordinate care amongst the patient’s family and friends, ensuring that the patient gets the best possible treatment. They also have the power to review program materials and create a comprehensive plan to meet their patients’ needs. Home-based care nurses can employ various professional skills depending on the goals.
One of the essential home-based care goals is to ensure that the aging population has a positive quality of life. It may be achieved by providing a patient-friendly environment and encouraging patient adherence to a healthy lifestyle.
Offer in-person support from a healthcare professional
The benefits of medical care from respect.com.au/care-at-home/ include decreased hospital stays, lower costs, and increased patient satisfaction. These programs offer in-person support from healthcare professionals, telehealth services, virtual monitoring, and coordinated clinical visits.
Skilled nursing may be provided in their homes for patients with complex illnesses. In other cases, a home health aide may be assigned to assist with daily living activities and provide medical support.
Medical care at home can be short-term or long-term after an illness or surgery. Some conditions, such as stroke, require home-based recovery and post-operative care for an extended period.
A comprehensive care management program is a coordinated care system that streamlines care and improves client outcomes.
Counselling and psycho-spiritual care prolong life
Providing counselling and psycho-spiritual care for people with dementia is not just for the kids. The benefits of such care are well documented, and studies have shown that it can greatly benefit the patient and their family.
Many health and social care professionals are trained to offer such services to their patients. For instance, some nurses can administer medications to improve a patient’s quality of life, and some chaplains can provide pastoral or existential assistance to patients.
Providing such a service is a challenging undertaking and can be a daunting task. One has to take the time to properly assess the patient’s level of cognitive functioning and the needs of the patient.
Reduce hospital readmissions and improve care
Home-based care programs are often touted to reduce hospital readmissions and improve care. Yet, there are many challenges involved with this model of care. These include safety, caregiver communication, patient education, and environmental hazards. It’s essential to be aware of these risks to protect patients better.
One of the most common problems with home-based care is poor communication. Because of the chaotic nature of at-home care, it’s often difficult for caretakers to communicate effectively with their clients. As a result, many patients may experience delays or other barriers. The elderly can also face difficulties communicating their needs and daily activities.
Home-based care is a service designed to help people with limited mobility or other impairments remain at home and maintain independence in their daily activities. It is also often used to prevent a person from becoming institutionalized, improve their ability to function, and promote their comfort level.
Prevent institutionalization
Preventing institutionalization in older adults is an important goal for community care programs. As the number of significantly older people with chronic conditions rises, the demand for care is increasing. Moreover, the supply of institutional care is decreasing, putting even greater pressure on the community.
There is a large body of research on the risk factors for institutionalization. Several studies have found statistically significant associations between specific diagnoses and institutionalization. Others suggest a lack of social support, financial resources, or other factors.
In this study, we investigated the relationship between multimorbidity patterns and institutionalization. The results showed that multimorbidity patterns were riskier than nonspecific disease patterns.
Other factors related to institutionalization were age, gender, and the presence of formal care. Moreover, the presence of informal care was also considered. Although most older people prefer to live at home, it becomes increasingly difficult as age increases.
Nevertheless, a small subgroup of the elderly is at high risk of institutionalization, and efforts to prevent this could be effective. Some strategies that could be used to avoid institutionalization include providing appropriate health services and partnering with caregivers.
Overall, our results suggest that focusing on a group of clients at moderate risk of institutionalization may be more effective than focusing on those at high risk.
