Why Choose Home Care for Medically Fragile Children?
Traditionally, experts advise that family-based care be given to a child who is medically fragile. Other placement options, such as in nursing or group institutions, are only suggested when in-home family care is not an option. As one may suspect, the reason behind this overwhelming agreement among the medical community is based on conventional notions of the importance of childhood. Children, medically fragile or otherwise, require an environment that fosters development and learning. Love, attention, acceptance, and a familial structure all aid in healthy growth. Though institutionalized care has made vast improvements within the past 25 years, often they lack the authenticity that a family provides. Because of this, in-home care is widely favored in comparison to institutionalized care in relation to medically fragile children.
Difficulties of Home Care
While the medical community urges in-home care for medically fragile children, this does not mean that it is a simple task. In fact, the difficulties of in-home care are often the primary reason for a family’s choice of institutionalized care. In-home care requires extensive training and knowledge on the part of the child’s primary caregiver, including staying connected with various medical professionals, maintaining a strict schedule, providing and enforcing a healthy and personalized diet, operating machinery, and much more. This complicated nature of in-home care combined with the financial burdens of caring for a medically fragile child can be stressful for the family unit. Commitment, patience, communication, and perseverance are all necessary to providing a rich and authentic in-home care experience.
Available Assistance for Home Care Families
Though in-home care of medically fragile children may be difficult on families, it is important to remember that outside help is available. Experts encourage the use of experienced nurses to assist in the maintenance and care of these children and their families, rather than traditional aids or assistance. The reason for this is because pediatric nurses are specially trained in technology, care, and policy regarding medically fragile children and are more equipped to deal with any and all questions that may arise. Additionally, private or public organizations that provide families with specialized nurses are in-tune with the medical field and more readily provide additional services, such as training to family members, assistance with administering smooth transitions from hospital to home, and mediating and regulating other medical needs, such as with insurance companies and doctors.
Why Choose J&D Ultracare for Home Care Assistance
The importance of choosing the right organization depends on the family. J&D Ultracare prides itself on over a century of combined medical proficiency in the pediatric nursing field, particularly as it pertains to the care of medically fragile children. We stand out from others because we are there for our patients and their families, conduct our work with care, compassion, empathy, and love. We are equipped to provide care to technologically dependent children, and help their families navigate through the complexities of such care. Furthermore, our organization is broken down into various departments, all who are able to provide additional assistance to the family in various ways, including care coordination, on-call availability, and flexible scheduling. If you are considering in-home care for your medically fragile child, or know someone who may be, consider calling J&D Ultracare with any questions, or to schedule a consultation.