Looking after elderly relatives in a responsible way

One of the most emotionally and financially challenging moments in a person’s life is when one of their elderly relatives falls ill and needs extensive healthcare. In a country as developed as Canada, where the level of the medical system is advanced enough to provide high quality services, hospitalization is rarely a problem. During their stay in the hospital, patients are treated very well and are likely to recover even after difficult surgeries. However, things become more complicated once senior patients are discharged. There is no doubt that a loving family can provide their elders with love and support after a difficult time, but we mustn’t forget that the period after discharge is crucial for recovery. For best results, patients still need medical home care, because complications may arise or because they need help throughout the recovery process. Unfortunately, regular individuals almost never have medical training, so they are powerless if they witness a stroke or a serious medical emergency. In addition, there is also the case of patients diagnosed with serious or terminal illnesses, such as cancer or psychiatric disorders, when home care also requires a lot of emotional strength.

Nursing homes, which have been the go-to option for many years, are starting to decrease in popularity after many establishments were involved in public scandals and lost their reputation. Moreover, the staff working there is not always supportive and those who are sent there feel neglected, unloved and left out because they only get to see their families once a week or once a month. Professional health assistance seems to provide the perfect balance between medical care and emotional support. Without having to leave their homes, patients still benefit from the surveillance of a trained expert who can look after them and help them with managing their illness. An interesting case is that of palliative care: this service is usually requested by people with serious, chronic conditions that are not likely to be cured, but who need help relieving stress and physical pain. Needless to say, in this line of work, caretakers have to be compassionate and supportive as well as medically trained. If a family chooses this option for an elderly relative that does not mean they are irresponsible or indifferent. On the contrary, they can be emotionally affected and might not know what to say to support their loved ones, and this is why they let an expert do the work.

If an illness is so severe that the patient cannot be discharged from hospital, there is the option of hiring professional staff for institutionalized assistance. For example, if you are not happy with the level of medical assistance in a retirement home or if you would like your loved one to be looked after at all times, you can hire an experienced nurse to provide extra assistance. On the basis of all these points, it seems that medical home assistance perfectly complements institutionalised assistance and that, in some cases, it can be more emotionally beneficial than the latter, especially when the patient also needs emotional support.

To find out more about palliative care and home care, please visit these links!

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