How Home Healthcare Can Help You Care For Your Husband After A Stroke
If your husband is in the hospital because of a stroke, he probably has a long road of recovery ahead. You're facing a lot of uncertainties right now, and one of them is where he will go once he is discharged from the hospital. Depending on his condition, he may need to go to a nursing home or rehab facility. However, the best option may be for him to return home to his familiar surroundings. That could be possible if you're not working and are able to be his caregiver. Plus, if you hire a home health service, your husband can continue to get the medical supervision he needs to recover at home. Here's how home healthcare can help you and your husband.
Provides Equipment
Your insurance company may not pay for all the equipment your husband needs to be safe at home. Some things, like patient lifts, are very expensive, and it's not really practical for you to buy them for short term use. The home healthcare service you use may be able to supply the equipment your husband needs, or at least they may be able to rent it for a reasonable monthly cost until your husband recovers. Some equipment that might be necessary includes a wheelchair, a flotation mattress to prevent bedsores, a patient lift for getting him out of bed, and a hospital bed so he can elevate his head.
In addition to the large pieces of equipment, your husband may need adaptive equipment to help him eat, get dressed, and bathe. He may need medical supplies like home oxygen or IVs. The home health company can help you decide what is needed to make his recovery easier on him and you. Plus, they can help you figure out what your insurance company will cover and what you'll have to pay for yourself.
Gives Medical Treatments
If your husband has medical complications such as difficulty swallowing, pressure sores, or respiratory complications, the healthcare company can provide medical supervision that includes visits from a nurse or therapist. He may need injections or other medical procedures that you don't know how to do. If the treatments are long term, the nurse can teach you how to do them yourself. If the treatments are temporary, the nurse or physical therapist may make frequent visits until your husband's condition improves. Also, it gives you peace of mind knowing your husband's medical needs are being supervised, so you have guidance on when it's necessary to contact your doctor or take your husband to the hospital.
Offers Extra Hands
Being a caregiver is demanding physically, especially if your husband is a lot taller or heavier than you. This is where home healthcare is a huge help. You may need someone to help you bathe your husband every morning and get him placed in his recliner for the day. If your husband needs to learn how to walk again, you'll need another person to offer physical support to keep him steady. You won't be able to do everything by yourself all the time, and knowing you can rely on additional help is important to your well being.
In addition to extra hands, the healthcare company may be able to offer respite care so you can take off for the weekend. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, you can at least leave the house for the afternoon and enjoy time with friends so caregiving doesn't wear you down.
At home healthcare helps your husband recover at home in familiar surroundings so he is more content and comfortable. It also helps you by relieving some of the physical and emotional pressures of caregiving. You can get as much help as you need, whether it is daily visits or occasional wellness checks from a nurse, so your husband has the best chance of a successful recovery at home.