When someone we love is injured, disabled, convalescing, frail or terminally ill we want only the best… & all of their care can be performed in the comfort of their home through Home Based Care (HBC).
The WHO(World Heath Organisation) defines HBC as “health service provision (formal & Informal) in the home to promote, restore & maintain the maximum level of comfort, function and health”.
HBC is recommended when a person requiring care (the client/patient) would like to remain in their home environment but requires additional healthcare that the family are not able to provide. HBC may be required for short periods e.g. recovery from surgery or illness or when the main caregivers need a break (Respite); or for medium term (to assist and adapt from hospitalisation & proceed with rehabilitation); or full-time, longterm care /end-of-life care.
Pros of HBC:
- Home health care services are truly unique and adapted to each one of the care needs of the client/patient
- According to the Cleveland Clinical Journal a person who is seen by a clinical professional in the comfort of their own home more readily trusts that the care team places their needs first
- Home based care services supports Activities of Daily Living(ADL’s) which means there is help & support with personal care and grooming, medication, nutrition, household chores & many more in order to preserve their dignity, maintain their independence and maintaining a good quality of life
- Research has shown that clinical results are far better with fewer complications when HBC is provided to individuals with chronic conditions
- Allows the family & relatives to be ‘family’ again as this is a role only they can fulfil
Cons of Institutionalised Care:
- Institutions remove an individual’s independence as a specific routine are followed to accommodate several other individuals as well
- Moving your loved one away from their familiar surroundings, friends and family could result in them feeling abandoned by their family and result in poor mental health which is paramount in physical well being
- Patients/clients are exposed to environmental factors and diseases which can not be fully controlled in such a shared environment
- Cost effectiveness of running an institution results in compromised quality of care
- As several members of staff rotate in an institution only partial continuity of care can be provided
