With Home Health Care Indianapolis Patients Can Stay In The Familiar Environment Of Their Homes

By Jessica Rodriguez


Nobody knows what the future holds. An accident, injury, a disease or simply old age may render people unable to continue with their day to day lives without assistance. It can happen to anyone and at any age. The level of assistance required differs from patient to patient but in many cases, without home health care Indianapolis patients will find it difficult to maintain a quality life style.

Just like death, frailness, debilitating diseases and injuries are not topics most people want to think about. The very idea of being dependent upon a stranger is humiliating for many people and they simply assume that their families will look after them if it becomes necessary. This is often wishful thinking because many families do not have the time or the skills to care for an invalid, especially over a long period of time.

The statistics are frightening. Eighty per cent of people over the age of sixty will require some form of assistance, ranging from occasional help to full time nursing. Even bigger numbers of younger people will sustain injuries or contract dread diseases that will render them incompetent to live without assistance. Sadly, most medical insurance policies do not cover the cost of such assistance and those that do only cover the cost for a limited period.

Luckily, it is possible to purchase special insurance that specifically make provision for the cost of hiring a permanent caregiver. This type of insurance is affordable, especially if it is purchased at a young age. Anyone baulking at the cost of such insurance policies should contemplate the consequences of being forced to live in an institution. Live offers no warranties and it is only sensible to plan for the eventuality of needing the services of a caregiver.

The level of assistance needed by the patient will be the main factor in making decisions regarding the type of help that needs to be hired. In some cases it is only necessary for a caregiver to visit the patient occasionally. In other cases the patient may need constant attention and a live in caregiver will then be the best option. In certain very severe cases the best solution may be to institutionalize the patient.

Health experts agree that patients receiving assistance in their own homes are doing much better than those living in institutions. It is still important, however, to prepare the patient for the inevitable changes in his life style and routine. Many patients struggle to come to terms with their circumstances and it may be helpful to encourage them to agree to counselling.

When hiring a caregiver it is important to check the references offered and to make sure that the applicant is experienced in assisting patients in similar circumstances. The caregiver should be willing to enter into a written agreement that stipulates their duties, their remuneration and other responsibilities. It may be advisable to agree on a probation period and the input received from the patient must be deemed important.

Far too many patients have no option other than to live in regimented institutions where they have to follow a set routine. In most cases this is not the ideal solution. It is therefore vital to plan for such eventualities and to make provisions for the cost of private care.




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