Most Googled Questions: What is Home Healthcare?

As you may already have seen, we at Home Instead Swansea have launched our very own ‘Healthcare at Home’ service, as a supplement to our highly-regarded home care support. We exist to ensure that as people grow older, they can continue to live independently in their own home, and this option should still be available for those with more complex needs. Expanding our services to include healthcare at home was a no-brainer.

So, What is Home Healthcare?

Home Healthcare refers to the broad range of services provided to individuals to maintain or improve their health, especially when managing existing health conditions or responding to new, complex conditions. It’s often assumed that this level of support can only be provided within a hospital setting. However, with Home Instead Swansea’s ‘Healthcare at Home’ offering, you can receive specialised medical support in the comfort of your own home.

How is it Different from Home Care?

Healthcare differs from home care primarily in the complexity of the support and the conditions it addresses.

• Home Care: Generally refers to support services provided in a person’s home to assist with daily living tasks, such as personal hygiene, help with mobility, companionship, and basic housekeeping. It typically involves non-medical care.
• Healthcare: Involves medical and clinical services that require professional healthcare providers (including Home Instead Care Professionals). Healthcare addresses a broader and more advanced range of needs, including managing complex health conditions, rehabilitation, and administering treatments.

Some Examples of Healthcare Services We Provide:

Our team of Care Professionals are trained to provide a wide range of services, including:

• Catheter Care: Management and maintenance of a catheter (used for draining urine or administering medications).
• Feeding Care: Tube feeding and assisting with nutrition and hydration for individuals who cannot eat or drink normally.
• Stoma Care: Care and maintenance of a stoma (a surgically created opening in the body, often for waste elimination).
• Basic Wound Care: Treating and managing wounds to prevent infection and promote healing.
• Non-Invasive and Invasive Ventilation: Managing respiratory support, including devices to help with breathing. Non-invasive ventilation does not involve inserting a tube into the airway, while invasive ventilation does.
• Bowel Care: Assisting with bowel management, including techniques to ensure regular bowel movements or managing complications like constipation or incontinence.
• Tracheostomy Care: Management of a tracheostomy tube (an artificial airway inserted into the trachea) for individuals requiring long-term respiratory support.

Who Can Benefit from Home Healthcare?

Whether it’s a temporary or lifelong condition, Home Instead’s ‘Healthcare at Home’ service has been created to ensure it can be professionally managed in your own home. More common conditions that we support with this service include:

• Chronic Illnesses (Including Diabetes, Epilepsy, COPD, and Heart Failure)
• Post-Hospitalisation Care (Including Recovery from Surgery, Supporting Physiotherapy & Mobility Support)
• Neurological Conditions (Stroke Recovery, Parkinson’s, and Dementia Care)
• Palliative and End-of-Life Care
• Disabilities & Developmental Conditions
• Mental Health Conditions

With the support of Home Instead, requiring complex care does not mean having to compromise your living arrangements—you can stay happy and safe in your own home, with first-class and tailored support when you need it.

What Are the Benefits of Healthcare at Home?

There are many benefits to receiving healthcare in your own home. Here are just a few:

• Avoid Unnecessary Hospital Visits: For many, a hospital visit is a very daunting experience, especially in Wales where hospitals are so often overcrowded. This also reduces the worrying spread of illnesses.
• Comfort & Convenience: Enjoy stress-free support without having to go anywhere. Allow a Care Professional to come to you, providing efficient care without disrupting your daily routine.
• Faster Recovery: Studies show that patients often recover more quickly at home, as being in a familiar environment can reduce stress and improve mental well-being.
• Preventing Re-hospitalisation: For individuals with chronic conditions or those recovering from surgery, healthcare at home can reduce the need for hospital readmissions by offering continuous monitoring and support, improving long-term outcomes.
• Ongoing Care: Home healthcare allows for continuous, round-the-clock monitoring of vital signs, medication management, and immediate attention when needed.
• Comprehensive Care: Home healthcare providers take a more holistic approach, addressing physical, emotional, and mental health needs in the comfort of your home.

What’s Next? How Do I Get Healthcare at Home in Place?

You’ll be glad to hear it’s super straightforward! Whether you’re ready to go ahead with a care package or would just like more information, you can give our office a call at 01792 790890, and our Care Manager Lisa will be happy to help!

From the initial call to an in-person care consultation, writing your tailored care plan, matching you with a Care Professional, and starting your care, we can have the whole process done in just a couple of days!