Homecare, Research Paper Example

Homecare is a field that focuses on providing care to patients in the home. It is care provided to patients who are experiencing illness outside the confines of a physical hospital. It is much more than just providing surgical/medical nursing in the home. The patient being cared for is the individual patient, their family or any significant individual in the family (Humphrey & Milone-Nuzzo, 1996, p. 22). Caring for patients at home can be very complex since the nurse has to consider several factors that are related to the client’s community and home. The services provided by homecare include:

Patient teaching- homecare demands that patients are provided with adequate information concerning their health and progress.The patients or clients receive direct care where the nurse is required to comprehend the diverse aspects of home visiting. The nurse also teaches a variety of skills to patients and caregivers (Humphrey & Milone-Nuzzo, 1996, p. 23).

The nurse conducts a thorough assessment of skills, which include complete psychological and physical assessment, social, environmental, economic, family issues, and home safety assessments.

The patients are provided with specialized care.Especially for those families who are well off and they view the hospital environment as not being fit for their loved ones. The care is customized as per the requirements and desires of the patient.

Financial benefits to using homecare services

Homecare is beneficial in terms of finances especially if the patient’s condition requires ongoing care. Financial burden for ongoing care can be a great stress for families given that hospital accommodation and food can be very expensive (Perkin, Newton & Swift, 2008, p. 51). Provision of other services too can pose additional financial strain to the families. Therefore, homecare cuts such costs as accommodation and food.

References

Humphrey, C.& Milone-Nuzzo, P. (1996). Orientation to home care nursing.New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Perkin, R., Newton, D.& Swift, J. (2008). Pediatric Hospital medicine: Textbook of inpatient    management. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.