When your spouse falls gravely ill, you may try your best to take care of them. However, you may soon find you lack the required physical capabilities, patience, and resources.
You may want to avoid sending your spouse to live in an assisted living facility or nursing home. Instead, you may find it more suitable to hire skilled nursing services to come to your home to take care of them each day.
Skills
The nurses who work in skilled nursing services have the professional capabilities to take care of your spouse as his or her health requires. They can administer medications for pain, blood pressure, diabetes, and other conditions properly. They also know how to use and read medical equipment like heart monitors, oxygen tanks, and blood pressure cuffs.
The nurses you bring to your home can ensure your spouse gets the medical care he or she needs to remain comfortable and safe. You avoid the stress of providing this medical care entirely on your own.
Respite
Further, nurses who work in skilled nursing can provide respite for spouses like you who may experience caregiver burnout. As much as you love and want to take care of your spouse, you may find you need a break every few days.
You can get that break and have some downtime to yourself when you hire skilled nursing services. The nurses for this service can take over your spouse's care and allow you to sleep, take a shower, run errands, or otherwise spend time by yourself so you can physically, mentally, and emotionally recharge.
Physical Capabilities
Moreover, taking care of your spouse can require physical capabilities you lack. You may be unable to lift them out of bed. You also may be unable to help your spouse stand up to use the bathroom, get in and out of the tub, or get dressed.
The nurses for the skilled nursing service may have the physical strength needed to help your spouse with these tasks. They spare you the physical effort involved in moving, lifting, and taking care of this person.
Skilled nursing services can help you take care of your sick spouse. The nurses have the professional skills to administer medications and use medical equipment like oxygen tanks effectively. They also provide you with regular respites from caring for your spouse and can handle the physical effort involved in this person's daily medical care.
Older adults sometimes see nursing care as an all-or-nothing scenario. They assume they are either at home living independently, or they are in a nursing home where everything is done for them. This is not really the case, however. There are plenty of in-between options for older adults who need some care, but who may not need full nursing assistance yet. Assisted living centers allow this flexibility. Your older loved one can simply have their meals provided for them, or they can have around-the-clock care — or somewhere in-between. We invite you to explore the content provided to learn more.