Unexpected medical conditions or issues can be taxing on a family caregiver. Your mom goes for her annual check-up. Her blood work comes back and shows that her iron levels are low. Her doctor suspects she has anemia, but more tests are needed.
Your dad goes for his annual physical and learns his blood pressure is high. His doctor feels it could be the stress of being in the doctor’s office and wants his blood pressure checked regularly in a less stressful setting.
In both of these situations, home health care services become a huge help. Here are the different ways that home health care nurses will help your parents while also helping you.
Blood Draws
To see if your mom’s new diet and iron supplements have raised her iron back to safe levels, she needs to have her iron levels checked for several weeks. To do that, she has to go to the doctor to have more blood drawn. It’s a 20-mile drive for you each way since your mom doesn’t drive.
You can’t keep taking time off work for the blood draw, but you also know it’s essential. Instead of making the drive each time, your mom can have home health care nurses come to her home and draw blood.
Blood Pressure Health Checks
Instead of having to buy a blood pressure monitor, your dad could have home health care nurses stop at his home and record his vitals like pulse and blood pressure. The nurse is in touch with his doctor to share the results. It also prevents trips to the doctor’s office where nervousness may make his readings higher.
IV Administration
For some reason, your parent has medications that have to be administered through an IV. It might be antibiotics, fluids, or a nutritional supplement like potassium. Instead of going to the hospital, a nurse could come to the home and administer IV medications there.
Nutritional Education
Your dad is newly diagnosed with diabetes. He also has high blood pressure, so his dietary needs are challenging. He needs to find meal plans that meet his low-sodium, low-fat, sugar-free needs. It’s not as easy as he’d hoped.
With home health visits, he’ll learn how to manage his disease at home. He and his family caregivers can learn what to cook and what he needs to avoid eating while planning his weekly meals.
Talk to a home health care agency to learn more about the services that help your parents with health issues they weren’t expecting. You can discuss prices and schedules during that call.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering home health care in Madison, WI please contact the caring staff at Agape Senior Services Madison today. (608) 841-1004
