If you have an older family member who is having difficulty managing on their own at home, it can be worrisome. Whether you’ve been thinking about engaging care at home for a while or you’re just beginning to consider that your loved one might need some extra help, knowing your options is the first step to finding the right support for them.
As you’re doing your research, all the options for care may get confusing. The two basic kinds of care at home are home care and home nursing. Let’s compare the two services, so you can see which one may be the best choice for your family member’s particular situation.
What Is Home Care?
Home care is non-medical care, which can be extremely helpful to your loved one for a variety of reasons. Some people need a little extra help with everyday tasks, like laundry, meal preparation or dressing assistance. Others choose a caregiver for companionship. Many of our clients visit museums or go to lunch with their caregiver, and it really boosts their spirits and helps them feel a part of the world.
One unique feature of ClarkLindsey’s home care is the flexibility of our Caresharing option. With Caresharing, you can choose a short, 15–45 minute visit for care or household tasks. Caresharing is available 6 a.m.–11 p.m., 7 days a week, within the city limits of Champaign, Urbana and Savoy. You can also choose our traditional option, which is available in 3-plus hour blocks of time for care, or our hybrid model — a combination of the Caresharing and traditional models. Whatever option you choose, you might be amazed at how quickly and easily our caregivers fit into your loved one’s life — and help them get out and be active again.
What Is Home Nursing?
Home nursing is comprehensive medical care by a certified nurse. This type of care goes beyond non-medical tasks to support seniors with more complex medical needs. Services can range from medication management to wound care, and even interfacing with health care providers. Our trained, certified nurses can handle advanced procedures like IV infusions and injections and G-tube and ostomy care. If your loved one’s condition changes and they need care in a community, we also offer senior care services on the ClarkLindsey campus.
How Do Home Nursing and Home Care Differ?
Home nursing and home care have some similarities. In both cases, a trained professional is coming to assist your loved one so they can continue to live independently in their home. Perhaps the biggest difference between the two is the type of support, assistance and care available. Each type of care addresses the client’s unique needs and goals.
Home care is the perfect solution for those who can live independently but require some assistance with everyday needs. This may mean regular visits for companionship or help with bathing and grooming. Home nursing is medical care from a team of qualified, certified nurses who can perform extensive assessments and monitoring, as needed.
Can You Receive Both Home Nursing and Home Care?
Yes. Often, people require both types of atHome services. For instance, someone recovering from surgery might need help with daily tasks (home care) while also needing wound care and medication management (home nursing).
Want to learn more about which atHome services are right for you or a loved one? Get in touch with us.