Most people consider caring for their loved one themselves to be the best. However, when the medical needs and patient condition go beyond family expertise, it’s also a duty to call for professional external assistance. For example, making the switch to day and night care services guarantees that they will receive reliable and qualified clinical-grade care.
Even though it can be a difficult and emotional process, everyone will benefit from it if it is well-planned and communicated. This blog shares some tips for the best way to transfer a patient to professional care services.
Ways to Make Elderly Patients Comfortable with Day and Night Care Services
1. Recognise the Need for Support
The first step is to know the time when your loved one’s medical and care needs have surpassed your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Signs can include:
• Difficulty managing medical conditions.
• Decline in patients’ mobility and increase in falls.
• Behavioural changes in patients, such as perplexity or anxiousness, occurring at specific times of day or night.
• Burnout or stress among family/primary carers.
You can approach the decision with confidence if you realise that receiving professional care is an act of love and duty rather than a sign showing the primary carer’s failure.
2. Communicate Openly with Your Loved One
Letting the loved one know about your decision of getting a professional carer can be difficult. Especially if your loved one loves their autonomy, and they might feel guilty or angry with the change.
Here are a few tips:
• Empathy Is Important: Begin by paying attention to their worries and anxieties first.
• Outline the Advantages: Then tell them how they can benefit from 24-hour medical attention, company, and the professional care they will receive.
• Engage Them in Decision-Making: When you start searching for a service, involve them as much as possible in selecting the carer and developing their care plan.
Honest and courteous communication builds trust and allows people to feel more in control of the situation. So if your loved one is satisfied and comfortable with the shift in the caregiving process as well as the carer, the care provision and the patients’ mental health will be better.
3. Research and Choose the Right Service
The quality and scope of services provided by different care providers vary. For example, some day and night care services in Croydon, Bromley, and Kingston Upon Thames offer home care, domestic support, respite care, and social and holiday care as well. Do extensive research to determine the greatest fit:
• Understand Their Needs: Determine whether they require specialised care, such as dementia support, surgery recovery care, or chronic disease management.
• Visit Facilities: Visit the care facility to see how the staff interacts with one another, meet the carers to see which one suits you, and speak about their hygiene practices.
• Read Reviews and Seek Recommendations: Reviews from other families can provide useful information about the care provider’s dependability and kindness.
• Ask Questions: Ask about emergency procedures, personnel ratios, and how care plans are customised.
4. Create a Gradual Transition Plan
A sudden transition might be stressful for the patient to handle. Even better if you are getting a carer who will look after them at home without having to shift your loved one into a new environment.
• Introduce Short Visits: To assist them in becoming used to the new carer, begin with brief visits or daytime services.
• Maintain Familiarity: If your loved one’s condition is sensitive, hire day and night services at home where the carer will stay with them 24/7 for all-time supervision. So even if you are not present at home, they will have someone to take care of them.
• Establish Routines: Work together with the carers to manage their daily schedules, including mealtimes and pastimes.
5. Provide Emotional Support
• Remain Involved: Emotional adjustment may take time. Be patient and provide reassurance through consistent communication, and do not leave everything to the carer.
• Monitor Their Well-Being: Communicate openly with the carers and take quick action to resolve any issues.
6. Evaluate and Adjust
• Regular Check-ins: After the service begins, schedule regular reviews with your care provider.
• Be Flexible: Change the care plan when their health or preferences change.
Final Thoughts
Making the decision to move your loved one to day and night care services is a sensible thing. It will protect their well-being, safety, and standard of living. All parties involved can benefit from this shift if you plan beforehand, communicate honestly, and remain involved. Keep in mind that the objective is to give them the finest care possible while also ensuring your own well-being. If you need these services in England, you can consult Priory Care Services for the best in-home caregiving assistance.
