AT A GLANCE:
All clients are provided with the best possible home care based on their unique needs. To that end, all prospective clients receive a free in-home nursing assessment visit from a member of our RN Field Nurse Supervisor staff to determine how best we can help them. SelectCare Home Care Services provides clients with free nursing visits to ensure we are providing the best possible care.
Free Nursing Assessment – A Critical Step to Your Home Health Care Needs
The primary purpose of a free in-home care and safety assessment ensures that the client can be safely supported at home with appropriate home care staff and the Home Care Plan addresses the Individual’s needs, living environment, and preferences. Although our service team discusses the client’s care requests in detail over the phone, the RN assessment confirms that the client information is accurate and complete, and that the client understands the home care goals. Here’s an overview of what it entails:
Purpose and Significance:
- Identify Needs: The assessment aims to thoroughly evaluate the person’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being, as well as their ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, and eating, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) such as managing medications, shopping, and preparing meals.
- Ensure Safety: A key part of the assessment involves a home safety check to identify potential hazards like fall risks and to suggest modifications for a safer living environment.
- Personalized Care Plan: The information gathered during the assessment is crucial for developing a customized care plan that addresses the individual’s specific needs, preferences, routines, and goals.
- Informed Decision: It provides an opportunity for the potential client and their family to ask questions, understand the services offered, discuss costs (if applicable), and make an informed decision about proceeding with home care.
- Caregiver Matching: Some assessments also aim to understand the client’s personality and lifestyle to facilitate a better match with a compatible caregiver.
What to Expect During the Assessment:
- Initial Consultation: An RN Field Nurse Supervisor from SelectCare will meet with the individual and their family and explain the assessment process. [This is done over the phone by the Service Team]
- Information Gathering: Questions will be asked about the individual’s medical history, current health conditions, medications, any recent hospitalizations or falls, and their daily routines.
- Physical and Functional Abilities: We will assess the person’s ability to perform daily tasks, their mobility and any physical limitations. This may involve observation and asking specific questions.
- Cognitive and Emotional Health: The assessor may inquire about memory, mood, social interaction, and any signs of anxiety or depression.
- Home Environment Review: A walk-through of the home will be conducted to identify safety hazards and assess accessibility. Recommendations for home modifications or assistive devices might be made.
- Discussion of Preferences: It is important to understand the individual’s preferences, hobbies, interests, and any cultural or dietary considerations to create a more person-centered care plan.
- Support System: They may ask about the availability of family support and other informal caregivers.
- Care Expectations and Goals: The discussion will cover what the individual and their family are looking for in home care and what their long-term care goals are.
- Services and Costs: After the assessment, our RN Field Nurse Supervisor shares their evaluation with your Service Coordinator, who confirms and schedules the caregivers best suited to your unique needs. Together, your personal home health care team discusses your plan of care in detail to ensure your caregiver arrives to your home fully prepared, on time, and ready to make a difference in your life.
In summary, a free in-home care assessment is a crucial step in the process of obtaining home care services. It allows the agency to understand the individual’s unique situation and develop a tailored plan to support their needs and help them maintain independence and quality of life in the comfort of their own home.
Here’s information on “Healthy Tips & Information”
