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Homecare (home care, in-home care), also known as domiciliary care, personal care or social care, is health care or supportive care provided in the individual home where the patient or client is living, generally focusing on paramedical aid by professional caregivers, assistance in daily living for ill, disabled or elderly people, or a combination thereof. Depending on legislation, a wide range of other services can also be included in homecare.[1][2][3][4]
Homecare can be organised by national or local government, by volunteer organizations or on a market basis.
Homecare is an alternative to institutional care such as can be provided at group accommodations and nursing home. Research shows that clients receiving home health care may incur lower costs, receive equal to better care, and have increased satisfaction in contrast to other settings.[5]
The services included varys vastly between jurisdictions, volunteer organizations and markets. Some examples of homecare services are:
- assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, toileting, food preparation, feeding, incontinence laundry, bed changing,[4][6]
- paramedical aid and qualified nursing care, such as injections, management of pressure sores, catheter and stoma care, carrying out physician orders, tracking vital signs, drawing blood, and documentation of health status,[4][6]
- palliative and end-of-life care,[5]
- communication between patient, family and physician,[6]
- mobility support, including short walks, conveyance to and from health institutions, or adapted public transportation services,[4][7]
- counselling, including behaviour management, psychological support and reminding devices,[4] and
- providing or managing mechanical and manual aids.[4][8]
Caregivers can range from qualified nurses and advanced medical staff to nurses and nursing aids. Some caregivers travel to multiple homes per day and provide short visits to multiple patients, while others may stay with one patient for a certain amount of time per day.[6]
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