Home Health Care
Deal with Personal Issues
Although most home health workers have the best intentions — to help the patient recuperate and become independent enough to stay in the home — it can be a difficult transition when a private home becomes a place in which caregiving strangers suddenly come and go.
To cover emergencies, be sure that all care providers have complete contact information for those who should be notified — and that they are aware of the patient’s medical preferences and directives, such as Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders.
Those new to receiving home health care report that the biggest adjustment is a loss of privacy. Simply getting a firm commitment of when caregivers will be arriving and how long they will stay during visits can go a long way in alleviating this concern. And if possible, designate areas within the home that are the patient’s or family’s private space, off-limits to others.
Another common complaint is that care providers aren’t attuned to the patient’s personal preferences and quirks that can make the difference between delivering fitting care and simply completing tasks.
For example, even if it does not bear directly on a home health provider’s particular duties, it may be helpful for him or her to know about the patient’s:
- Needs around food, sleep, and bathroom habits;
- Body temperature tendencies;
- Home activities, such as a favorite television show;
- Preferred exercise and outings; and
- Friends and other social contacts.
