It’s only natural for you or your loved one to want to remain at home while growing older. And while no one can predict the future, chances are there will come a time due to changes in health and medical needs when a decision will need to be made about whether staying at home for the long term truly is the best and safest step to take. That’s where in-home health care comes into play.

What is in-home health care?

Have you ever wondered, “what is in-home health care?”  Well, it’s just what the name implies – professional medical care that’s provided in the comfort of your home following surgery or due to a chronic condition, illness or injury. It can also include Physical and Occupational therapy as well as home health aides and social workers.

Often, the need for in-home care becomes evident following a doctor’s visit or hospital stay. If your doctor or referring health care provider decides you need home health care, they should give you a list of agencies that serve your area. As the Medicare program describes, home health care is unique as a care setting, not only because the care is provided in the home, but because the care itself is “usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective” as care given in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

What are the advantages of in-home care?

The goal of home health care for seniors like those services provided by McLean Home Care throughout Simsbury, Connecticut, and surrounding areas is to help seniors maintain their health and well-being while reducing urgent care visits and preventable rehospitalizations – all while helping you or loved one regain independence and stay at home longer. The type of home care for elderly in their own home depends on their specific needs and typically includes:

Registered Nurse Services to provide in-home nursing care for the elderly, including help with managing a chronic disease such as diabetes, wound care, cardiac care and other special conditions. They communicate directly with your doctor while observing and assessing medical conditions. They also provide case management and education to the person receiving service and their caregiver.

Physical Therapy to help regain strength, mobility and balance through treatments such as exercise, gait training, range of motion and others.

Speech Therapy to help enhance eating and swallowing skills, in addition to spoken communication and cognition following a stroke, surgery or other condition.

Occupational Therapy to improve physical performance of daily activities, such as eating, dressing and bathing, using training and assistive devices.

Home Health Aide Services to help with personal care and activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and mobility when skilled nursing services are also provided.

Medical Social Workers to provide counseling and information about community resources.

What’s included with in-home health care?

When searching for home health care for seniors, keep in mind that the types of skilled services offered can vary greatly from provider to provider. At McLean Home Care and Hospice, we offer comprehensive, personalized services that include:

• Preventive services
• Specialized care for chronic conditions such as heart failure, kidney disease or COPD
• Home telemonitoring and emergency medical response technology
• Palliative care – advanced care for symptom management
• Joint rehabilitation following replacement surgery
• Fall prevention and balance training
• Comfort-focused palliative and Hospice care
• Advanced planning and resources
• Wound care

When to consider in-home health care.

A doctor will prescribe in-home health care for seniors. Situations in which it may be ordered include:

• When skilled nursing care is needed following an inpatient hospitalization or a stay at a skilled nursing facility due to surgery or due to a chronic condition, illness or injury.
• When therapy is needed to help regain independence following surgery, illness or injury.
• Following a change in medications to monitor for side effects and assure a new medication is effective.
• When there’s an overall decline in functioning, therapy may be prescribed to improve and maintain independence or learn new skills to compensate for the deficit.

Award-winning care when and where you need it most

McLean Home Care and Hospice is continually recognized nationally for its exceptional coordinated care and specialized programming. You can bring the compassionate care from our highly experienced, multidisciplinary team to the comfort of your home, apartment, or even assisted living community, throughout the surrounding Hartford, Connecticut, area, including:

• Avon
• Bloomfield
• Burlington
• Canton
• Collinsville
• East Granby
• Elmwood
• Farmington
• Granby
• North Granby
• Simsbury
• Tariffville
• Weatogue
• West Granby
• West Hartford
• Windsor

To learn more about our McLean’s comprehensive 5-star in-home health care services, give us a call at 860-658-3700. We’ll be happy to discuss your needs and answer any questions you may have.