If you have a loved one that needs daily medical care and you want to care for them at home rather than moving them to a nursing facility, then at home nursing care might be the solution. Nurses can come to your home as often as needed to tend to your loved one's needs. The care might be from an RN or an LPN, which is different than home care that might be provided by a nursing assistant such as bathing and feeding. Here are some things an at home nurse can do to help with your loved one's care.
Administer Injections And Start IV Medications
If your loved one is on a number of complicated medications, they may need to be provided by a nurse. For example, a nurse may come out to administer pain shots or start an IV when needed. The nurse may also tend to permanent lines by flushing them to prevent clots and changing dressings. The nurse can interact with the doctor and pharmacy when medications need to be changed, stopped, or added. While you may still be responsible for giving oral medications on schedule, having a nurse provide injections and IVs might mean the difference between your loved one living at home or going to a nursing home.
Care For Wounds And Prevent Bedsores
If your loved one has a wound from surgery or an accident, it may need cleaned and dressed daily. This can be a complicated task when wounds are infected or when they won't heal. Having a nurse watching over the wounds ensures they won't get infected, which might require hospitalization. A nurse can also help prevent bedsores in your loved one by making sure your home is equipped with the right supplies and mattress and that your loved one changes position often. Inspecting daily for bedsores could be important so steps can be taken before a small pressure sore turns into a deep ulcer.
Manage Medical Equipment
It may be possible for your loved one to move back home even if he or she is connected to a variety of medical equipment as long as there is nursing involvement. A nurse can care for things like a tracheostomy, ventilator, catheter, surgical drains, and a colostomy. There may be long-term nursing involvement, or it might be temporary while you learn to take over some of the care yourself.
Your loved one may not need many of these services and just require regular visits from a nurse for checking vital signs and supervision of diet and medications. Nurses can provide the level of care needed to keep your loved one comfortable and safe at home, which could mean a lot to both of you if your loved one doesn't want to go to a nursing home.
For more information, contact your preferred at-home nursing services.
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