Author: mpardeshi

Basic Duties And Responsibilities Of Home Nurse

When we think of a home nurse, the first thought that probably comes to mind is elderly care or caring for senior citizens. While this is the most common requirement, a home nurse can be helpful in many other cases too. Think about a high-risk pregnancy where the mother is completely bed-bound for several months. Maybe a young person has suffered a severe injury or accident and needs care and rehabilitation. Post-surgery care is quite common too, whether young or old. A home nurse can be helpful wherever there is a medical condition that needs special care, right from newborns to senior citizens.

So what does a home nurse really do? Think about all the things a patient needs in the hospital. Administration of injections and medication, charting of various parameters, reporting to the attending doctor, assistance with toileting and so much more. 

A home nurse is qualified to do all that and more in the comfort of one’s home, but let’s take a closer look.

Care plan

With healthcare at home, your home nurse can create an individualized plan of care based on his or her evaluation of the patient’s health, advice from the attending physician and the patient’s lifestyle. This care plan will be tailor-made to suit the patient and help them live up to their best potential.

Medication

Having a nurse at home means you will have assistance with monitoring and giving out medications, administration of injections or IVs, assistance with pain management and changing or draining of catheter or urine bag where necessary.

Wound management

With healthcare at home, the patient’s wounds (where applicable) can be cleaned and dressed at home itself.

Symptom watch

With certain conditions, family members may not be aware of certain symptoms, but a certified nurse at home will be alert and monitor all existing and new symptoms and vital signs. They will maintain a chart to see the patient’s progress.

Monitoring

Patient health will be closely monitored and the care plan will be updated accordingly.

Guidance

Your home nurse will be able to instruct both the patient and the family on proper home care guidelines. This will help you be aware of dos, don’ts and not to worry’s!

Safety

Due to their extensive training, they may be able to provide suggestions to improve safety at home as well as facilities to enhance their mobility such as handlebars and anti-skid mats in the bathrooms, organization of furniture to accommodate a walker or wheelchair and so on.

Coordination

A nurse at home will constantly be in communication with the patient’s physicians, dietician or other health advisors.

Support

Lastly, your nurse will be able to extend encouragement and support to the patient themselves as they grapple with their condition. This is important for the overall mental wellness of the patient.

The great thing about one on one care is that a patient is able to benefit from the same quality of qualification and experience as institutionalised care, but with a personal touch and individual attention. It’s no wonder home healthcare is growing today.

How Winters Affect the Elderly

Winter is just around the corner. In many places, temperatures have already begun to drop, warm jackets are coming out and, the days get longer and darker. While winter may be an enjoyable and exciting time for some, there is a category of people who may struggle more than others with the cold. 

Surprisingly, winters can have a negative impact on the overall health of the elderly or senior citizens. It is important to keep a watchful eye on them, have the contact number of the best physiotherapist around and even sign up for home healthcare in some cases to ensure their safety.

So how does the winter impact their health:

Increases risk of hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when the body becomes so cold it starts to shut down. In cases where there is extremely cold weather, the risk of hypothermia goes up exponentially. This happens because their bodies cannot withstand the cold as long as younger people. Elderly people naturally create less body heat, which means they are often colder than younger individuals to start with. Watch out for slowed reactions and movements, sleepiness, slurred or slow speech and confusion.

Cardiac troubles

Patients with existing underlying heart conditions are at greater risk for cardiovascular troubles during winters. The cooler temperatures lower the overall body heat. This can cause the blood vessels to contract, reducing oxygen supply to the body, increasing the risk of a stroke. The extra work that the body has to put in to stay warm can also lead to higher blood pressure and heart attacks. If you have a senior citizen at home who has pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, having a nurse at home may be a good idea. 

Respiratory illness

The drop in temperature commonly leads to respiratory infections in older people. The main reason for this is that excessive cold lowers their immunity and weakens lung function. Asthma patients and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) need to maintain special care during winters.

Increased pain

Another side effect of the cold is that muscle and existing pains tend to worsen in the cold weather. This can be especially difficult for those suffering from arthritis and other conditions as it may hinder their mobility significantly. Look out for the best physiotherapist to help you out through this as it can impact their movement significantly. 

These realities may sound scary and a little bit daunting, but a few simple steps will help keep your loved ones safe and cosy. 

Here’s what you can do:

  • Ensure they wear lots of layers.
  • Use heaters indoors.
  • Get regular check-ups.
  • Keep a very close eye on them and pay attention to anything that may seem a little off.
  • Hire help – Look around for a nurse at home from the SSSPS home healthcare provider to lend a hand.

Having a helping hand can put your mind at ease and your beloved ones safe and cared for at all times!

Reasons Why We Need Caretakers for Elderly at Home

As our parents get older, we may notice that their age begins to catch up with them. Suddenly, the videos they watch seem louder, they take longer to process what you’re saying to them and moving around doesn’t seem as breezy as it once did. At first, things may begin subtly, but over time, you may see that things are becoming quite challenging for them. 

Parents and grandparents are important to us, and we know that we need to care for them, but sometimes, it may not be so easy. They are physically, mentally and emotionally dependent which can often take a toll on the family who undertakes to look after them. In such cases, home healthcare may be a wonderful option for you and here’s why:

  • Caretakers for elderly can monitor their health.

As non-medical professionals, we may not always be alert and attentive to certain symptoms. Confusion for example, in some cases, maybe a medical symptom, but to us, we may not know when to sound the alarm. However, by having a nurse at home, they will be well aware of your parent’s conditions and monitor them closely. 

  • Bathroom & hygiene.

For a patient who struggles with mobility, assistance with going to the washroom and maintaining basic hygiene can be a relief. When a person struggles with their motor skills, oftentimes, hygiene is not fully maintained as they may not be able to clean themselves well. Caregivers for elderly help in changing adult diapers, if required. This is a big support to the family members as they might not be able to drop everything to attend to them each time and as a result, the patient may end up waiting too long to go to the washroom or having a delayed diaper change. 

  • Personalised homecare.

By remaining at home, they have their attendant all to themselves along with all the elements of their comfort like their blanket, their clothes, shower, washroom and all that’s familiar. They are able to set their own routine and they remain in charge of how they live their life, giving them a sense of independence and individuality. 

  • Peace of mind for the family.

For the family, knowing that their parents are in their own home, with their own devices and accessible at all times. There is less to worry about in terms of safety, comfort and knowing that they are always in good hands.

  • Ability to customise the environment.

An important factor is that when the senior citizen is at home, you can customise the environment to fit their needs. Whether it is installing handlebars in the shower, moving around furniture to accommodate a walker, lower shelves and cabinets or carpeting the floor to prevent slipping. Whatever your parent needs, you can arrange for in their home environment giving them the ability to be independent even if they do have home healthcare. 

  • It may be more affordable.

In cases where the patient needs round the clock care, it can be more economical to have a nurse at home administering the care they need rather than institutionalised care. 

Most importantly, you get to keep your loved one near and dear. These memories of their final years are memories that you and your family can really cherish, especially when you have the necessary help to make things easy. 

How To Stay Fit In Winters

The world appears to be a pleasant place as we approach the winter season of the year and as we approach the end of 2021 very soon. The chill of winter brings a grin to many people’s cheeks, as well as some good recollections. While many people like winter, several cities in India have harsh winters that might have negative health consequences. To keep your health at its best, you’ll need to take some extra precautions. The cold and lack of sunlight also impair immunity, leaving people more sensitive to common illnesses such as colds, coughs, and flu.

Ailments that occur during the winter

The following are the most common winter illnesses that people suffer from during the season:

  • Cold symptoms such as runny noses, sneezing, and chest congestion is prevalent in the winter. This viral infection is more common in young children, who may also have a slight temperature.
  • High temperature, sore throat, splitting headache, muscle discomfort, and coughing fits are all symptoms of Influenza, also known as the ‘flu.’
  • As the temperature drops in the winter, your joints become more rigid and painful. People with Arthritis and other orthopaedic diseases suffer from body aches, joint aches, and discomfort as a result of this.
  • Bronchitis is a common respiratory infection that primarily affects children and individuals over 60 years old. The virus causes inflammation of the lungs’ airway branches, resulting in mucus blocking the airways and making breathing difficult. Nasal congestion, low-grade fevers, cough, and wheezing are all symptoms.
  • Pneumonia is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs. You may have a cough, fever, and difficulty breathing. Long-term illnesses such as asthma, hypertension, or heart problems can make you more susceptible to pneumonia.

Taking Down the Blues

Follow these health suggestions and include some winter superfoods in your diet to boost your body:

  • Acquire enough sunlight to get your daily dose of vitamin D. This aids in the strengthening of your bones, the improvement of your immune system, and the reduction of mood swings.
  • Create a daily fitness routine and, if necessary, exercise indoors. Strengthening your immune system and maintaining your general health requires at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week.
  • Dates are a fantastic winter snack because they keep your body warm when consumed regularly. They’re low in fat and help your body get the nutrients it needs.
  • Bajra, commonly known as millets, is abundant in fat, protein, and fibre, as well as iron. Consumption regularly helps to energise your body and keep you warm.
  • Spinach, fenugreek, mustard greens, and other dark leafy greens are high in vitamins A, C, K, and other minerals. They not only improve your bone health but also aid in the prevention of winter skin dryness.
  • Almonds and walnuts are dry fruits that keep your body warm while also promoting a healthy nervous system, a healthy heart, and increased insulin sensitivity.
  • Chyawanprash is created with ayurvedic herbs and the benefits of Amla (gooseberry), which supports the body’s natural ability to make red blood cells while also keeping the respiratory passages pure.
  • Warm spices like Cloves and Cinnamon can be used to flavour your food. Cinnamon is a warming spice that promotes blood circulation, tissue regeneration, and anti-inflammatory properties. Cloves have a high level of eugenol, an oil that warms the skin and improves blood circulation.
  • Sesame or til seeds are recognised to aid in the maintenance of a healthy body temperature. They aid in the improvement of energy, digestion, and bone health. Enjoy this winter staple in the shape of Chikki and frying with sesame oil.
  • Ghee is a winter necessity that is high in unsaturated fat and helps to keep the body warm while also providing energy.

Enjoy the cold months by eating nutritious foods and avoiding harmful lifestyle choices. Make the most of the winter months by eating seasonal fruits and vegetables that will naturally enhance your immune system.

How patients can live safely in the comfort of their homes

It’s no secret that patients require round the clock care an attention. Their well-being and healing depends on how well they are cared for. A patient with staff who are alert, attentive and fully present stands a much higher chance of recovery than a patient with highly distracted staff who are in a hurry. The most common medical mistakes are made when attendants and attending professionals are too thinly spread. The best alternative to this to receive healthcare at home.

Reputed home health care services means is a system of care provided by qualified and skilled practitioners to patients in their homes under the direction of a physician. The ultimate goal of home health care services is to help individuals to improve in their health and function and live with greater independence. This method has long been proven to promote the patient’s optimal level of overall well-being.

By remaining under healthcare at home, patients are the sole priority and receive undivided attention even through the night. This means that they are constantly monitored and cared for, which in turn leads to a higher level of safety and security for the patient. Having a skilled and knowledgeable practitioner who is aware of the patient’s condition, charts and progress to keep a watchful eye on the patient can even be life saving in certain situations.

Moreover, home health care means staying safe from viruses, infections, fungal infections and other transferable diseases that are most prevalent in hospitals. A patient’s immune system is often compromised which makes them susceptible to any bacteria in the air. Medical personnel are also distributed between multiple patients which may make them carriers of the bacteria. Further sickness to a patient with compromised immunity can be catastrophic and at times even fatal. This is prevented when a patient receives medical care at home.

Finally, home healthcare facilitates exceedingly safe administration of treatment and medication. The practitioner or nurse is responsible for maintaining a hygienic and well sanitised environment. This helps ensure a sterile surrounding is maintained for the administration of medicine or care and ensures an additional level of safety for the patient.

After all, it’s our duty to keep our loved ones safe!

Homecare : Heal Faster at Home

Battling through sickness and disease can be really disconcerting. It can be really tough on the patient and well as the loved ones that surround them. Watching the person you love so dearly suffer and ache can take an emotional and physical toll on the family and friends. We all want to see the suffering come to an end and watch the beautiful transformation as the patient recovers fully. One of the best ways to speed up the recovery is receiving healthcare at home.

Home Healthcare is actually proven to speed up healing and recovery of patients for so many reasons. In fact, patients are said to thrive in their home settings versus in an institution or hospital setting.. Several case studies and research have indicated that patients may in actuality bring the recovery forward by 6 weeks or more.

Healthcare at home may include receiving caretakers, nanny services or even a highly qualified physiotherapist at home. Whichever service it may be, the benefit of receiving personalized care in the comfort of one’s home has innumerable benefits. Let’s take a look at how this may happen:

Think about an elderly patient that has recently undergone major spinal surgery. The surgery was a success, the patient is stable, but now the long road to recovery begins. The recovery time given is 6 months or longer, but the patient is stable enough to be sent home. However, the patient is now unable to walk, sit, change or do anything independently. He needs support 24/7. Now there are two options: remaining in long term hospital care with qualified professionals available to him around the clock. Or, receiving healthcare at home.

By remaining in hospital, his meals are all provided, physiotherapists are checking in daily and there nurses checking in hourly. You know he’s in safe hands. The drawback: you can’t be with him all the time. This can be resolved one way – by bringing him home; he is stable after all!.

By bringing him home, you get to be around, your family is there to surround him and he’s in his own bed. You can hire a caretaker to care for him and prep his meals and have a physiotherapist at home too. This way, he gets fully dedicated attention. Rather than having different people checking on him hourly, he has one person dedicated for him at all times.  Rather than waiting for a physiotherapist to come see you on his rounds or when he’s free, you have a dedicated professional coming at a time that is convenient to you. The patient is not spending his time waiting for doctors to be available to him.

By doing this, the patient in recovery is able to set his own routine, eat wholesome food that enhances his recovery, be with loved ones And even find ways to be entertained. All these factors contribute to the speedy recovery. That’s why healthcare at home is the go to solution for those that need speedy healing..So what’ll you choose?

Tips to choose the right home attendant for elderly

In search of a home attendant for elderly? With so many services and companies out there, how does one choose the right male attendant? It can often be quite overwhelming as we’d want to ensure that our loved ones are in good and safe hands, but we may not have the time to interview, screen and do the relevant background checks. Even if we do, how do we know we can really trust the home attendant for elderly? Here are some tips out experience has taught us:

A credible organization – One of the best ways to book the absolute best ward boy services from a trusted and reputed organization. Looking out for an organization that has several years of experience and credibility in the industry saves you from having to do the screening process yourself. It also ensures that you have a contract with a company that would be answerable for any issues that may arise.

Experience – It may go without saying, but ensuring that your male attendant has a good amount of experience under his belt is quite key, especially since looking after elderly requires skill and knowledge.

Language – Ensuring that your professional is able to both understand and speak in the language that you and your loved one speaks is important. Communication barriers can bring unnecessary stress into a situation, but ease of communication on the other hand can really make the relationship beautiful.

Physical strength – This is an often missed and forgotten area when it comes to screening the right candidate. It is however extremely important as the elderly may need support with their mobility. Ensuring that your attendant is able to bear the weight of the b patient when necessary is important.

Health background – Another often forgotten check is their health background. Caring for the elderly can be physically demanding, so it’s important to ensure that your home attendant is able to remain in a healthy state. This prevents taking time off for health reasons. The last thing we’d want is to have the caretaker to become the patient!

Specified Knowledge – In cases where the patient suffers from a specific sickness like paralysis, high blood pressure or even diabetes, it’s important that the attendant knows exactly how to care for the patient and when to alert the doctor if required.

Nature – A good natured, friendly and cheerful attendant can make a huge difference. When a patient is struggling with failing health, they often feel a little low. A cheerful attendant however, may be able to lift their spirits and keep them in a positive mind space. On the other hand, a serious ward boy can make the patient feel far worse which may actually hinder their progress.

Priorities – Last but not least, having an attendant who will priorities the patient and ensure that they are always number one is important. There’s nothing worse than paying for someone to come and be on their phone or caring for their own needs instead of paying attention to the patient.

Hiring the right person may sound overwhelming, but having a company to do the right checks for you can save you time and effort. You’re sure to be in good hands with the best organization in your pocket.

WHAT IS A CAREGIVER AND HOW CAN THEY HELP YOU OR A LOVED ONE?

Who comes to your mind when you think about the word ‘caregiver’? It may be a parent, a loved one or someone who you think of a kind, caring and nurturing and you’d be right! A caregiver, however, can also be one who has decided that they are going to be fully dedicated to caring for, looking after, and nurturing those who are ill and ailing – like rare treasures for those in need.

There are many situations where one would look out for amazing caretaker services like a caregiver for elderly or a patient that may have suffered major injury. When anyone suffers from crippling conditions due to illness, disease or injury, great caretaker services can be pivotal. How?

Well, think about an aging loved one. We all want the absolute best for our loved ones, but often, we may not be able to be at their back and call 24/7. We want to give them time, attention, and utmost care, but may have to divide our time between caring for them and keeping up with our other responsibilities. That’s where a caregiver for elderly comes in. A caregiver will always be dedicated to our loved one. They will be there to take care of the patient’s needs immediately without distraction or division of attention. The caregiver will ensure that the patient’s needs are being met round the clock and coordinate and liaise with you so that you’re up to date with all the occurrences. Your loved one will have the opportunity to feel safe, cared for and looked after as they battle their condition.

What makes them absolute gems is the fact that these caretakers have made it their mission to ensure that patients in a vulnerable and needy state are treated with kindness, dignity and are given the quality of life they deserve. They take joy and pride in pampering and showering the patient with the attention and tenderness that they need to remain in a healthy mind space. With the help of caregivers, social interaction and communication is maintained to avoid loneliness and depression, keeping the sick jovial and chirpy despite their difficult circumstances.

So how can the caregiver really help you or your loved one? It’s simple – they can do just about anything. They may help with daily basic tasks like getting dressed or feeding meals, but also more complex things like preparing meals, household chores, maintaining a hygienic environment. The caretaker may also help medically by monitoring the patient’s vitals periodically, coordinating with the attending doctor, keeping wounds clean and ensuring the right medicines are taken at the right time. On the pampering side, caretakers are often great at giving massages to stimulate the muscles, aiding with exercise to build strength, and dressing up the patient in a way that they always feel good and presentable. In short, they’re the jack of all trades that you need them to be.