Does your loved one need medical or non-medical care? Tips to decide

“My mother just had a fall and broke her hip. She will need help to do her basic activities at least for the next three weeks and physiotherapy thereafter.”

“My father is 82. He already had a heart condition and has now been diagnosed with dementia. He will need round-the-clock care to manage his conditions.”

In both these cases, the seniors will need the help of trained experts who know how to help people with medical and non-medical needs. But how do we know which model of care to opt for?

Medical Care home is performed by doctors and registered nurses and other medically trained personnel, whereas non-medical care is usually performed by professional caregivers. Medical Care is required for patients with medical needs such as a diagnosis by a doctor who visits the patient at home, a change of catheter or IV administration, or continuous monitoring of a critically ill patient.

Homecare refers to non-medical care at home that helps seniors and temporarily or permanently disabled persons to maintain as much self-sufficiency as possible. It is a model of care that provides assistance to individuals for their activities of daily living (ADL). Depending on the need of the patient or elderly, the duration of care can be suitably prolonged from an hour visit to a live-in care support, where the caregiver resides with the patient and provides the necessary support as and when required. Non-medical care can help retain the independence of the patient, and at the same time ensure hygiene, and prevent infection and potential risks.

Medical care at home include services of medical professionals, in many cases, in addition to non-medical care. From simple injections to continuous monitoring of critical care patients, medical care is an essential part of home healthcare. Some conditions like a fracture or recovery after an illness requiring medical care only for a short while. Medical care also helps in the management of a number of diseases like diabetes, dementia, arthritis, etc., which can severely limit a person’s quality of life.

Your home-care service provider will be able to guide you in selecting the right type of professionals. Also, talk to the physician, which will help to have a clear idea of what you want the caregiver to do.