When your loved one reaches the stage of life when daily living is more than they can handle, you start wondering what care management arrangements options are available. When in addition to assistance, medical care for chronic conditions is also required, it is time to create a home health plan of care.
What is a nursing care plan?
A nursing care plan is a document that includes care services intended for aging persons with health issues in the comfort of their homes. The care plan ensures that anyone who is incapable of self-care or feels insecure living alone will be provided assistance, medical help, and support services.
A family member can’t handle all health conditions when it comes to the care of relatives. Your health care provider might have already suggested Comprehensive care management and suggested home health care services.
Home health nursing
Trusted Touch Healthcare knows it can be exhausting and overwhelming to get side information from different sources and rely on individual experiences. This is why we decided to elaborate on the topic and provide in-depth information about the importance of having a home care plan in place to help you decide what’s the best skilled nursing care for you or your loved one.
What does a nursing care plan include?
A nursing plan of care is a document that includes an individual’s needs and requirements. It represents a care agreement for caregivers to provide adequate assistance and meet the patient’s and family members’ care goals.
Having a health service care plan is beneficial for both seniors and family caregivers as it provides peace of mind, knowing that your loved one will have day health care while you are working or running errands.
It is highly unlikely to come across identical care plans as they are all tailored to meet the needs of the individual. It is a very personal document that is usually created with a senior health care agency and a physician to carefully examine all the services the person might need.
Yet, as different as they are, there are certain core similarities that all home care plans include.
- Assessment of the Client’s Needs
When creating the care service plan, a representative or a nurse from the care management agencies will be the one who inquires about the care recipient and offers personal care services. It is more than recommended that a family caregiver takes part in creating the home care plan and coordinates with the nurse.
She will write down everything relevant to the care recipient and create a planner to delegate care team responsibilities and keep track of the progress and the changes.
- Contact Information of Home Care Providers
Depending on the type of home care services you have requested, the number of people who will take care of your family member might range from one aide to a whole team. Of course, the key contact is the home care coordinator and the nurse in charge.
In line with your family member’s condition, there might be a whole team that will be required, such as doctors, physical therapists, an RN, speech therapists, social workers, psychologists, and CNAs. Having the contact information of everyone involved is not only useful in case of emergency, but you can consult with and inquire about additional information about the care of your loved one.
- Indication of Home Care Equipment and Supplies
In case your loved one needs medical equipment or supplies, such as an IV setup, a walker, wound care products, etc., the plan needs to include it. It is also important to indicate who will be responsible for the supplies and who orders them.
A well-designed home care plan has a table that keeps track of the deliveries and their organization.
What services does a health care plan include?
Depending on the health condition and the family member’s needs, the home care agency can provide various care services. The services are generally segmented into professional (certified nurses, doctors, physical therapists, social workers) and paraprofessional (home health aide or companion care services) ones.
The home care services’ duration might also vary, from a few care hours to around-the-clock skilled nursing care as agreed upon between the client and the home healthcare care agency. The care agreement services include:
- Chronic Disease Care – Patients with chronic diseases are provided with medical and personal care services. The services could range from medication management and physical therapy to household maintenance and transportation.
- Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease care – If your loved one requires Dementia home care or Alzheimer’s, the home care plan could include medication assistance and protection, safety, and transport of patients to designated places, such as doctor’s visits.
- Live-in caregiver – If you don’t live with a family member who needs constant companion care, then the home care plan can include 24/7 services from individuals who have experience in providing senior care. That way, you can rest assured that your loved one is taken care of and that their home and belongings are protected.
- Personal Care and Nutrition – Personal care includes assistance with bathing and hygiene, dressing, toileting, or changing diapers. Aides can assist patients with feeding and cooking.
- Housekeeping and Escort– You have the option to include light housekeeping, grocery shopping, and assistance for appointments in your home care plan. These include cleaning, shopping, meal preparation, laundry, or going with the patient to specific locations.
What are the benefits of a home health care plan?
A detailed healthcare plan can help care programs keep track of the client’s activities and follow their daily routines. This ensures that your family member can live a dignified life in their old age and receive maximum care and support.
With a homecare plan, families can have a detailed insight into the health benefits, delivery of care, and how their loved one’s daily needs are satisfied.
A care plan also ensures that the caregiver will complete only those assigned tasks and won’t do anything that is not listed in the plan without a supervisor’s approval. That way, seniors and their families are ensured that the care will include only procedures, tasks, and assistance listed as preferred and needed.
Scheduled care plans are kept and shared with the senior’s family, which is very important for relatives who don’t live with them.
Can you change or update home care plans?
Yes, you can add or remove requirements in line with the family member’s mental and physical condition. If the condition deteriorates, you can demand additional support and assistance or medical supplies.
A registered nurse or a supervisor monitors the client’s condition and includes the updates in the plan. In the event of a health failure, a doctor can state what nursing services the person needs.
If the senior has a progressing medical condition or a chronic disease, then the home care plan needs more frequent assessments and updates. In such a case, the senior home health care agency is likely to reassess the care plan every 30 to 60 days.
Are home caregivers certified?
Most home health agencies employ certified nurses, doctors, and social service staff for services that involve medical care and treatment. Also, trained caregivers accompany seniors and provide services that include bathing, cleaning, physical activities, and transport.
Your loved one’s health plan can indicate what particular type of care coordination you seek. You can always schedule a meeting with the caregiver and discuss any issues.
Does health insurance cover home care services?
When considering insurance, you need to note the difference between home care and home health care. Home health care services include medical assistance and refer to recovery after surgery or illness, and therefore are partially covered by insurance policies like Medicare.
Home care services are needed to support senior citizens in their aging process and therefore are not covered by health insurance policies.
Contact us today at (301) 272-5140 to review your plan of care for your aging loved one.
