No one wants to spend any more time than necessary in the hospital. The goal is to get the required treatment or procedure over with as quickly as possible and move on to recovering. Naturally, the growing trend in in-home hospital care services is one being met with open arms. Imagine being able to avoid:
The risk of infection inherent in a hospitalization
The bright lights, bells, and alarms that make sleeping difficult
The need to share a room with someone else who is ill
Institutional food
Loneliness and isolation from short visiting hour periods
In-home hospital care allows someone whose condition is serious yet stable to receive visits from clinicians and any necessary medical equipment – so treatment is provided in the most comfortable and least restrictive environment.
There’s nothing not to love about such a program, right?
The Downside to Receiving Hospital Care at Home
While the benefits of in-home hospital care are incredible, there’s one key factor to consider: are you ready and equipped to serve as the caregiver for a loved one who is critically ill? While doctors and nurses visit the home and are available by telehealth sessions for questions, the bulk of care falls on the family.
“In the hospital, if something happens, they know how to take care of it,” explains Clare Semling, whose husband participated in a hospital-at-home program. “Now it’s on you.”
It’s important for family members to be part of the decision-making process about a loved one receiving hospital care at home, and to be made aware of the implications it will mean in their own lives. For instance, you’ll want to think through:
Can you handle getting up as needed during the night to check on the person, help them to the bathroom, etc.?
Will you be able to manage medications and ensure they’re taken as directed?
Are you ok with having clinical staff coming in and out of the home at regular intervals?
What will you do in the event of an emergency?
Also consider your current commitments and responsibilities: caring for children, taking care of household chores and errands, working outside of the home, and other important activities like spending time with your spouse, nurturing relationships with friends and other family members, participating in hobbies and pastimes you enjoy, engaging in healthy lifestyle choices, etc.
It can be helpful to create a quick estimate of how much time you currently have available to care for a loved one at home, considering all of the factors above. If it feels overwhelming or unmanageable, seek out help.
The Care Company is here to help if a loved one decides to receive in-home hospital care. We can provide medication reminders, run errands, prepare meals, and take the night shift if you’d like, allowing you to maintain the healthy life balance you need. Contact us at (416) 422-2273 to learn more about how we can help with personalized in-home care services in Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York, and the surrounding areas.