A home health nurse provides medical care and support to clients in their own homes. Home health nurses help people maintain their independence and quality of life while receiving care in a familiar and comfortable environment. This form of in-home support can also alleviate the burdens on family caregivers.
Here is what you need to know about what home health nurses do and why you may want to consider this form of support for you and your loved one.
Understanding What Home Health Nurses Do
Home health nurses deliver skilled nursing care to individuals in their homes. This care can encompass a variety of responsibilities, depending on your loved one’s needs.
Home health nurses may assist by:
- Helping your loved one manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis
- Facilitating physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Sharing educational insights to promote your loved one’s well-being
- Administering infusion therapy or injections
- Performing blood draws
- Assisting with medication management
- Performing personal health assessments
- Facilitating post-surgical rehabilitation
- Caring for wounds
As you can see, no easy answer exists to the question, “What do home health nurses do?” because they’re there to meet your loved one’s specific needs.
As those needs evolve, so can the care plan. For example, following a surgical procedure, your mom might need daily assistance from a nurse to dress her surgical incision, help with pain management, and assess her recovery progress. Once she’s recovered, she may just want a nurse to visit once a week or every other week to check in.
Do Home Health Nurses Only Assist with Medical Needs?
Most people are drawn to nursing because they’re passionate about helping others. Especially if you work with WesleyLife at Home, you can expect your loved one’s nurse to be a kind and caring person who will take the time to share a friendly conversation. After all, supporting your loved one’s well-being goes beyond their physical health. That said, a home health nurse’s primary responsibility is to deliver medical care.
Home health nurses may be focused on meeting medical needs, but nurses aren’t the only type of at-home service provider who can assist your loved one. You can also sign up for at-home services provided by non-medical team members who are ready to help in various ways, from household chores to mobility assistance.
Consider discussing your loved one’s care needs, both medical and non-medical, with an at-home senior living services provider to find the appropriate arrangements for their situation.
Why Should I Consider Hiring a Home Health Nurse?
Reasons to consider signing up for at-home services abound. When it comes to medical support from home health nurses, you may want to consider the medical expertise they bring to the table, the convenience of in-home support, the personalized care they deliver, and the enhanced safety and peace of mind your family can enjoy.
Medical Expertise
As trained medical professionals, home health nurses provide the expertise to support your loved one’s well-being. This might involve answering questions, assessing and treating your loved one’s medical condition(s), and sharing their insights with you or other family caregivers. A home health nurse isn’t meant to replace your loved one’s primary care doctor or specialists, but they can act as an extension of your loved one’s medical team.
Comfort and Convenience
In a survey by Cross Country Workforce Solutions Group, 70% of respondents aged 50 and over said they would prefer to remain in their homes with support as they age. Our homes are typically where we feel most comfortable, so it’s no wonder that most of us prefer to receive care there. Plus, hiring a nurse to come to your loved one’s home can be much more convenient, eliminating the need for frequent trips to medical facilities.
Personalized Care
You don’t need to settle for a one-size-fits-all solution. Home health nurses provide personalized care tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the client. Guided by your doctor’s input, you and your loved one can speak with your home health nurse and work together to create an ideal care plan.
Enhanced Safety
Home health nurses can promote safety in many ways, from ensuring medications are taken correctly to providing immediate assistance in case of emergencies. They can even evaluate the home environment to help find ways to make it more accommodating and safe.
Peace of Mind
Knowing that a skilled professional is regularly assisting with your loved one’s care can provide peace of mind and reduce stress. You can think of your loved one’s at-home nurse as your partner in care. They keep your loved one’s best interest at heart and can be a dependable source of ongoing support.
Learn More About Home Health Nursing and Other At-Home Services
So, really, what do home health nurses do? These professionals play a vital role in delivering skilled medical care and support to individuals in the comfort of their own homes, allowing them to maintain their independence and quality of life while receiving the assistance they need. Want to learn more about the variety of services available to help your loved one enjoy enhanced well-being at home? Read The Complete Guide to At-Home Services!
