Home care support
A family member can frequently continue living at home with intermittent assistance, help running errands, or post-hospitalization support. However, certain medical conditions require assistance that doesn’t fit within normal working hours. In these situations, having 24-hour access to an in-home caregiver may be the safest approach.
Having round-the-clock care does not always require direct, non-stop contact with the individual in need of support. It simply means a caregiver is on duty to monitor the situation and assist if necessary to avoid a potential crisis.
When memory and mobility change
Dementia can reshape daily life
A dementia diagnosis (WHO spells this out at who.int/news-room) can impair someone’s judgment, memory, mobility and perception of danger. As the disease advances, they could become confused and wander off at night, attempt to go outside or leave the house alone, not know where the bathroom is, or experience anxiety and distress without knowing why.
In-home caregiving assistance
In these cases, a 24-hour caregiver may be warranted when:
- The patient wanders or tries to exit the home unsupervised
- There are instances of nighttime restlessness, anxiety or wakefulness
- Assistance is required for bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, or moving
- Medications are not managed properly
- The patient experiences frequent falls due to unawareness of physical limitations
An added benefit is that nighttime monitoring can help alleviate the burden placed on family members who have had to sacrifice sleep to oversee their relative’s safety.
Falling becomes a constant concern
Someone with severe physical limitations might require assistance each time they try to get up, use the restroom, or move around. This can occur following surgery, a major injury or a debilitating condition like a stroke or neurodegenerative disease.
There is an elevated risk of falling when a person can’t ask for help and has balance problems or uses medications that increase the chance of hemorrhaging or injury if they should fall. A home care aide can assist with positioning, maintain clear pathways in the home and respond immediately when the person needs to get up.
A good question to ask is, “Is the home set up for safe transfers?” Caregivers require adequate space next to the bed, toilet, or favorite chair to use proper body alignment or mobility aids. If a patient’s wheelchair, walker or gait belt cannot navigate the home safely, modifications may be required before providing home care services.
Coming home with complex needs
Some individuals returning home from the hospital have needs that cannot be met with part-time help from a spouse or adult child. Patients may have recently undergone surgery, are struggling with cardiac or pulmonary disease, or are facing new disabilities from an accident or illness.
Daily and overnight care may be necessary when symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, chronic pain that limits mobility, needing to use the restroom often, or confusion stemming from an underlying disease or medication adjustment. Caregivers can monitor changes, assist with everyday tasks and follow instructions from the patient’s healthcare provider.
This type of assistance would be unnecessary when a patient is stable, can reach for help easily, and only requires brief, intermittent aid. Those patients can receive care through routine appointments and family visits rather than 24/7 supervision; Conditions That Require 24 Hour Home Care is the page that matches this.
Neurological symptoms can shift quickly
Neurological conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord and nervous system may cause progressive or sudden changes in physical capabilities. Parkinsonism, late-stage multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and neuromuscular diseases might affect speech, swallowing, coordination, respiration or the ability to request assistance.
The need for around-the-clock care becomes apparent when the symptoms become increasingly erratic. An individual might be able to take care of him/herself one day and need help getting up, eating, bathing or turning over shortly thereafter. Overnight needs also come into play, especially when rigidity, shaking, respiratory issues or incontinence interfere with uninterrupted sleep.
When the care plan no longer holds
Family members reach their limits
In some instances, the choice comes down not to a single diagnosis, but rather the circumstances of the person receiving care and the ability of the caregiver. Family members may be physically or emotionally overwhelmed, taking time off from work, lifting loads beyond their capabilities, or unable to stay awake throughout the night.
Warning signs that an existing arrangement is not viable include forgetting to administer prescriptions, multiple falls, exhaustion or sleep loss among caregivers, neglecting meals or making repeated 911 calls. Extra care assistance can relieve caregivers so they can resume their roles as grandparents, spouses and parents.
Work out the coverage you need
Determine the best course of action by assessing a typical morning and evening, not just the medical diagnosis. Keep a diary of when you need help, what leads to dangerous situations, and whether the patient can communicate effectively when in trouble.
Take note of nighttime events, physical assistance requirements, medication administration, and times of day that cannot be covered by family.
