When you and your family have decided that it is time to look for in-home care for an older relative or a loved one with dementia or learning disabilities, it can be hard to know where to start. Some people opt to hire live-in carers, who can offer 24/7 help, whereas others may be eager to look for something that has more of a clinical leaning, based on need.
If you’re one of these individuals, you may have seen or heard of “nurse-led” at-home care options.
And you might be thinking what this actually means?
Well, in short, it is what we offer at StellarCare NW. But in order to help you understand if this is the type of care you or your loved ones need, we will walk you through why it is one of the best options for care.
What is Nurse-Led Care?
Nurses are the backbone of many health systems, and at StellarCare NW, we have created a team to oversee the care for people in their homes using this ideology, backed by guaranteed clinical excellence.
Nurse-led home care is when a nurse is at the centre of the care management. They oversee the care plans of those under their care, as well as offer clinical oversight, training to new care staff, and help with the management of new or chronic conditions.
Our care option is based on The Buurtzog Model, which focuses on small groups of nurses providing a range of personal, social and clinical care to people in their own homes. This also allows professionals to work collaboratively in non-hierarchical teams to offer holistic care. This is not only what we do, but it is firmly the option that we have found delivers the best options for families and those whom we care for.
The True Advantages of Nurse-Led Care
Many standard home care providers are run by administrators. Such leadership can cause vital care decisions to be driven by business processes rather than medical needs. And this may present as a conflict of interest.
But at StellarCare NW, we do things differently.
We are a proud nurse-led team, and all of our care plans are overseen by a qualified, in-house nurse. So, your loved one’s health is monitored by a clinical expert, which will offer your family peace of mind. Here, you can rest assured that our care is proactive and tailored to individual needs. That being said, we have seen in real time the benefits families get when choosing this option, such as:
Clinical Interventions
One of the biggest benefits for those that we care for and their families is the planning and coordination of the care (with the relevant clinical interventions).
Common clinical interventions that can happen with nurse-led teams include:
- Medication Management: Commonly, for example, an elderly person may be taking multiple medications at once. If they are also managing a condition like Alzheimer’s, they may be struggling with taking their meds regularly. With the help of a trained nurse, medication will be given, monitored and assessed by our carers for effectiveness.
- Patient/Family Education: Getting older can present with multiple health issues which need to be managed. A nurse-led team can educate you and your loved ones on how to best care for their condition(s). Thus, reducing the risk of hospital admissions and promoting the best health.
- Health Monitoring: Sometimes, changes in health are subtle. However, with our nurses and carers, all changes in someone’s demeanour, appetite or awareness will be monitored.
*Rest assured we will always ensure that any medication change or complications with the health of your loved one will be discussed with you.
Personalised Care
No two people are the same, and we are aware of the dangers of the blanket approach to care.
The “patient-focused” model, which emphasises personalised care, is a core part of what we offer and believe in at StellarCare NW. Here, we take the time to review medical notes and to devise care plans that meet the needs of each person we care for. This means taking into account everything from their stage in life to any medications that they may have.
Collaboration
We are aware that there may be some cases which can present a unique challenge for our team. As part of nurse-led care, we will always endeavour to seek professional advice and insight from other health professionals, like our clients’ GP.
This will ensure that they receive the level of integrated care that they need and that all health issues are explored by the relevant teams. This will promote better long-term outcomes and will keep your loved one happy and healthy.
Independence Support
Health care is one thing, but our team of nurses and carers is aware that older adults will want to maintain their independence for as long as possible.
We wholeheartedly agree that everyone should have as much independence and autonomy in their lives as possible, and we aim to promote independence in the home wherever we can, while also keeping an eye on each person in our care for signs of potential health problems.
So if your loved one needs a bit of help in their daily life, our nurse-led team at StellarCare NW can help them to stay in their homes, while also offering the oversight that they may need.
If that sounds good, and you want to hear more, please contact our friendly team today.