Compassionate care is the holistic approach that nurses take on when handling patients. This type of care deviates from traditional hospital care, the latter of which can be generic and has a one-size-fits-all approach because of the number of patients that need to be attended to.
Compassionate care includes care in the patient’s home environment, making this type of care patient-centered. That said, here are some of the ways that compassionate care can benefit the patient:
Patient-Centered Benefits
When care is patient-centered, it means that the needs of the patient determine the direction of the caregiver. In traditional care setups, the pace of care and attention is determined by the caregiver, who is on a working schedule that endeavors to attend to all the patients that need attention.
When a patient determines the pace and type of care, they can be more vocal about their physical, emotional, and mental needs. For example, a patient may just need some time to discuss the distress they may be experiencing, which is not related to physical distress. A simple discussion with the caregiver can help the patient view their situation from a different angle. These are gestures that may help alleviate the stress, depression, and anxiety that may be a result of being unwell.
In a traditional care set up, the caregiver may not have the time to listen and discuss such situations with patients. This means that while patients may be attended to physically, they may be left with emotional and mental struggles. The home neurological care Omaha provides is the kind of service that offers this holistic approach to patient care.
Patients Are In A Familiar Environment
Compassionate care in the form of home care means that patients can recover in the comfort of their own homes. In some cases, being in an overwhelming environment such as a hospital, where one is surrounded by life-saving gadgets and patients, can cause the patient to become stressed and experience anxiety. Added stress to an illness can only slow down their healing process.
When patients are in the comfort of their homes, they may enjoy the familiar space where they can be themselves. They don’t need to navigate new spaces to gain access to any facility or service they require, as is done in a traditional hospital space.
Families Learn About Home Care
Compassionate care within the patient’s space surrounded by family means that the members can learn how to care for the patient. In the case that compassionate care services aren’t available round the clock, family members can provide some of the care that is required. For example, a family member learns how to empty a catheter bag or how to dress a wound.
The Patient Is Surrounded By Family
Compassionate care from home also means that the patient doesn’t have to be apart from their families. The care comes to the home, meaning they can enjoy the company of the caregiver, as well as constant support from family. When the caregiver leaves, the patient can still enjoy having their family help out in the care, unlike in a hospital setting wherein the patient is left alone when the caregiver has to leave.
Patients Enjoy Company
The visiting hours that are provided by hospitals are probably the highlight of many patients. Being able to see your loved ones for just a few minutes makes a difference in the space that can often become lonely and isolated. The nature of compassionate care is that the patient enjoys the company of the caregiver. The fact that the care is personalized means that the caregiver has dedicated that time to spend with the patient. The caregiver won’t have several patients to attend to in short intervals, meaning patients can share a laugh, some tea, and candid discussions with their caregivers. Being lonely may also contribute to the deterioration of some patients so enjoying some company from their caregivers may help them keep up their health and spirits.
Immediate Attention
Compassionate care provides immediate attention. When a patient points out that they have concerns, or is struggling with a particular problem, the caregiver can provide immediate attention. In a setting where several patients need attention, they might have to wait their turn. In some cases, waiting to be attended to caused more issues due to the anxiety and fear of the experience. Providing immediate attention eliminates this period of uncertainty for the patient.
Anomalies Are Quickly Picked Up
Compassionate care requires attention to detail, which makes it possible for a caregiver to pick up any sudden changes in the patient’s health. For example, if a patient’s body part is more swollen than the previous day, a caregiver may pick this up faster than when in a hospital setting. The speed at which such anomalies are detected can make a difference between a patient healing and becoming worse off.
Clear Communication
The personalization that comes with compassionate care makes way for clear communication. Caregivers are in a position to clearly address medical questions that patients may have. In a traditional setup, messages may be relayed in a rushed manner because of the working schedule. In addition, home-care nurses are trained to communicate in a style that doesn’t rely on medical jargon, meaning patients don’t get confused by medical terms.
Patient Receives Encouragement
Patients require encouragement when on the road to recovery. For example, if one is recovering from a physical accident and has to re-learn how to walk, encouragement can be the push that they need. The mind is a powerful tool that can convince someone that they can accomplish a certain task. Left to our mind-space, it can be easy to fall into a negative mindset, which may lead to giving up. The encouragement that patients receive during compassionate care may have just a powerful impact as the medication they will be taking.
Resourceful Strategy
The personalization that comes with compassionate care contributes to the resourcefulness of the system. Instead of spending on transportation that comes with multiple trips to the hospital, the care can travel to you. The pricing design is also not based on the number of nights you spend in a hospital bed, but rather on the time that’s spent by the caregiver in your home, as well as the equipment you may require. This way, the money you would have spent in the hospital can be channeled to other priorities that will contribute to the process of recovery.
Diet And Nutrition Are Supported
Compassionate care includes the patient’s all-around welfare. The caregiver is trained to make sure that you’re receiving the nutrients that are required for your healing. Aside from simply monitoring the patient’s food intake, family members are also able to include this in their diet for the benefit of the patient.
Get Help With Light House Chores
In the event that a patient doesn’t have help around the house, a part of compassionate care is to help nurture the patient’s environment. A caregiver can help with light chores such as vacuuming, washing the dishes, and keeping the general tidiness of the house. The patient only has to be concerned with healing rather than focusing on external factors that can contribute to stress.
Compassionate Care Is Patient
Some patients have complained that medical staff can become impatient when one is having a particularly tough sick day. The stress that medical professionals can experience as a result of being overwhelmed by work may take a toll on them. The one-on-one approach employed by compassionate care means that the caregiver is more patient when it comes to difficult moments. A patient won’t have to worry about feeling as if they are a burden or are slowing down the caregiver’s work schedule.
Compassionate Care Provides Space
The dynamics of sharing a room and bathroom or lounge space with other patients can add to the stress of being unwell. When you’re feeling unwell, you might wish for the private space in which you can privately deal with vomiting, being unable to dress, being unable to feed yourself, or needing help to walk. Some patients may become depressed by the thought of being observed by other patients, as well as visitors. Compassionate care in your home means a patient can tackle the nature of the illnesses without an audience. This may alleviate other factors such as anxiety and stress, which may accompany being part of a communal setting.
Conclusion
Compassionate care benefits patients in that it is patient-focused, and they remain in a familiar environment, which can lower the risk of depression. Family members can observe and learn home care, and patients enjoy the company of their caregivers. There is also immediate medical attention, anomalies are quickly flagged, and the communication between caregiver and patient is clear. Patients also receive encouragement, and caregivers are resourceful, support proper diet and nutrition, as well as help with house chores. Compassionate care is also patient, meaning patients can relax knowing that they’re never inconveniencing a particular work schedule.
Make sure to engage professional compassionate caregivers who handle patients with authentic care.
