
Home Healthcare Is The Way Forward To Improve Elderly Care In India


In India, family is responsible for the care of elderly relatives. However, there is a marked dissolution of the traditional family set-up as we know it with changing scenarios where children are increasingly moving out for employment, both spouses are working for a living, competitive and busy lifestyles taking over sedentary regimes and even the elderly looking to be independent for as long as possible. Nuclear families are growing in numbers gradually taking over the joint family structure. These factors affect how the elderly receive their care. Additionally, it is important to note that the requirements for health-care of the elderly are different from regular patients.
Dr. Gaurav Thukral, Executive Vice -President and COO, HealthCare at Home said, “An important area where home based healthcare proves to be invaluable for the seniors is in the management of chronic or non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Regardless of socio-economic status, NCDs are extremely common in old age. Common chronic conditions include cardiovascular
diseases, chronic respiratory diseases like asthma, diabetes, cancer, arthritis and mental conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, depression and hypertension. Chronic diseases, are not only the biggest reasons for hospital visits but also a leading cause of death among elderly in India. Disabilities resulting from chronic diseases are occurring more often, which makes it difficult for the senior patients to conduct their day-to-day lives in a normal manner. When that happens, there is also an escalating burden on the care giver”.
Thus, more and more families are opting for home care when it comes to administering long term care for their elderly relatives. The fact that patients can be monitored and treated within their homes, the environment they are most comfortable in, is the biggest benefit of home based healthcare. However another major plus point is the cost-effectiveness resulting from reduction in doctor visits and hospitalisation. Families end up saving anywhere between 10-50 per cent of the total healthcare costs as compared to regular hospital treatment. Therefore, home care offers a preventive and effective approach to overseeing chronic diseases in the elderly.
As mentioned earlier, geriatric care is very different from general nursing. From being technically well equipped to handle medical situations, caregivers to the elderly also have to have a certain type of disposition. Patience and compassion are two significant qualities required while attending the elderly. Home healthcare provides its staff with essential training specifically for geriatric care, that allows them to provide professional care that even family members may not endowed to. As a person ages, their vulnerability to declining functional abilities also increases. The ability to perform staple tasks on a daily basis like feeding, bathing, dressing, maintaining physical hygiene and basic mobility become difficult for the elderly. In most cases, it is not possible for one of the family members to stay home and take care of the patient every day. Nursing services provided by homecare are not only limited to medical duties like monitoring vitals and administering medications but healthcare attendants are available round the clock for assisting patients with daily activities.
Debilitating health can harm both the physical and psychological state of the elderly. Therefore, in the case of geriatric care, the healthcare giver must be extremely sensitive to the needs of the patient. While improving the quality of life for the older patients through physical well being it is also necessary to provide them with emotional support. This is why, they are best cared for at home where they feel secure among their loved ones. But with the demands of geriatric care being much greater and vastly different, it is also important that they receive professional care. Home based healthcare ensures that diseases in the elderly patients are treated with successful clinical outcomes while making sure they do it with compassion.
While improving the quality of life for the older patients through physical well being, it is also necessary to provide them with emotional support
Thus, more and more families are opting for home care when it comes to administering long term care for their elderly relatives. The fact that patients can be monitored and treated within their homes, the environment they are most comfortable in, is the biggest benefit of home based healthcare. However another major plus point is the cost-effectiveness resulting from reduction in doctor visits and hospitalisation. Families end up saving anywhere between 10-50 per cent of the total healthcare costs as compared to regular hospital treatment. Therefore, home care offers a preventive and effective approach to overseeing chronic diseases in the elderly.
As mentioned earlier, geriatric care is very different from general nursing. From being technically well equipped to handle medical situations, caregivers to the elderly also have to have a certain type of disposition. Patience and compassion are two significant qualities required while attending the elderly. Home healthcare provides its staff with essential training specifically for geriatric care, that allows them to provide professional care that even family members may not endowed to. As a person ages, their vulnerability to declining functional abilities also increases. The ability to perform staple tasks on a daily basis like feeding, bathing, dressing, maintaining physical hygiene and basic mobility become difficult for the elderly. In most cases, it is not possible for one of the family members to stay home and take care of the patient every day. Nursing services provided by homecare are not only limited to medical duties like monitoring vitals and administering medications but healthcare attendants are available round the clock for assisting patients with daily activities.
Debilitating health can harm both the physical and psychological state of the elderly. Therefore, in the case of geriatric care, the healthcare giver must be extremely sensitive to the needs of the patient. While improving the quality of life for the older patients through physical well being it is also necessary to provide them with emotional support. This is why, they are best cared for at home where they feel secure among their loved ones. But with the demands of geriatric care being much greater and vastly different, it is also important that they receive professional care. Home based healthcare ensures that diseases in the elderly patients are treated with successful clinical outcomes while making sure they do it with compassion.