Understanding the possibilities of home care

We are often inclined to think that if we really care for a loved one that needs medical care or assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), we need to transfer them to a facility (hospital, frail care, or step-down facility).

This is probably due to our lack of knowledge of what is possible at home and what support is available.

We think Home Based Care is a new way of thinking but if we really think about it, in the past, when health care infrastructure was not developed, we looked after our own. One might have called the neighbour who was a nurse or the most knowledgeable/elderly person in the community to assist, but people recuperated at home.

The pandemic has fast tracked our acceptance of home care and helped us to explore the possibilities. Being in hospital, and not being able to receive visitors and communicate with our loved ones, has caused tremendous stress in many lives the past year or so.

There were many outcries, “Is there something you can do in order to prevent my family member from being admitted?” From these outcries, home oxygen administration, remote monitoring and tele-medicine took off with enthusiasm.

There is definite evidence that people recuperate quicker in their own environment, with their loved ones surrounding them.

Home based care services include support of ADLs, home-ventilation of a stable patient, wound care, intravenous infusions, dementia care and monitoring of chronic diseases to prevent unnecessary hospitalisations.

The intensity and level of care should be appropriate to the patient’s condition and according to the patient’s wishes, something that has been neglected very often.

Why take a child with a sore throat to the pediatrician if the General Practitioner can handle it just as well? Rushing a dying patient to hospital despite their wishes to die at home because of shortness of breath (dyspnea) are all examples of where we fall short. It all boils down to education. We need to have a care plan and an idea of how we want to be treated in an emergency or in a situation when we cannot decide for ourselves.

Find out what home care services are available, look at what you can afford and talk to your support system so that they know what your wishes are, especially at the end of your life or in life-threatening situations.

Medwell SA’s service offering includes managed care at home, post-hospitalisation and discharge from rehabilitation facilities as well as the supply of all needed medical equipment through our incorporated partner EDNA Medical Distributors. Medwell SA’s services are offered to all age groups including the elderly that have become frail.  For more information, visit www.medwell.co.za or send an e-mail to info@medwell.co.za