What Is In-Home Nursing Care? An In-Depth Explanation and How to Hire

Nursing care is the most common form of home health care, according to Johns Hopkins.^[01] In-home nursing care for the elderly offers medical services in the comfort of a senior’s own house or the home of a family member.

Your loved one’s doctor may recommend in-home skilled nursing care if they have significant health care needs but don’t want to live in a nursing home or other residential care facility. From there, the doctor will work with a registered nurse or agency to create a comprehensive care plan. This plan may include daily medications and treatments for any other health-related concerns your loved one may have.

Let our care assessment guide you

In-home nursing care provides many of the same services a registered nurse could offer in a hospital or doctor’s office on a recurring basis. Significant procedures, like surgeries, would require a hospital visit and could not take place in-home.

Depending on your loved one’s needs, a nurse may perform the following:

• Wound care or debridement
• Insulin injections and other diabetes management
• Medication administration
• Ostomy care
• Post-surgical care
• Treatment of bedsores
• Intravenous therapies or nutrition administration
• Monitoring of vital signs
• Assessment of complex medical conditions

An at-home care nurse can also help guide you through your aging relative’s care needs and offer education about treatment plans. If you only plan on hiring short-term nursing care while your loved one recovers from an illness, injury, or surgery, the nurse can also help with instructions on how to become self-sufficient after the rehabilitation period.

Since a doctor’s orders are required to start care, the at-home care nurse will also generally act as a liaison with both your loved one’s doctor and your family to provide health updates.

The majority of home care nurses are hired through agencies. These agencies cover administrative concerns such as payroll and insurance to make the process easier for your family. They also monitor the credentials of their nurses and generally conduct background checks and review performance.

When your loved one’s doctor prescribes in-home care nursing, they may offer a list of agencies in your area that can meet your family’s needs. Or, you can work with one of A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors to learn more about home health care agencies near you.

When choosing a home health care nurse, consider these factors:

• Your family’s budget
• Whether insurance covers that agency’s care
• Personality preferences and your loved one’s interests
• Gender preferences for a care nurse
• The level of medical care your loved one needs

What to know before interviewing a home care nurse

Before you hire a nurse, it’s important to know your loved one’s unique needs. Their doctor will likely provide documentation that details health concerns to address.

When interviewing potential home health care agencies, be prepared to answer the following:

• Does your relative require short-term care to recover from an injury or illness, or do they need longer-term health monitoring?
• What type of insurance does your loved one have?
• What medications does your relative take?
• Will the care take place in your home or in a house where your loved one lives alone?
• Does your relative have any specific personality preferences or needs?

Have the doctor’s documentation, a list of medications, and insurance information on hand for these meetings.

Talk with a Senior Living Advisor

In-home nurse care is an ideal choice for aging adults with significant health care needs who wish to age at home or who are recovering from an illness or injury and have chosen not to attend inpatient rehabilitation.

If your loved one doesn’t require medical assistance, a home care aide may better fit their needs. Home care providers don’t offer many of the services described above. They can help with activities of daily living, like dressing and bathing, as well as medication reminders and light housekeeping.

Some families may hire both an in-home care nurse and a home care aide simultaneously to meet their loved one’s needs. The nurse can offer medical treatment and maintain communication with the physician and family, while the care aide provides nonmedical help with transportation, household chores, and meal preparation. If you believe your relative could benefit from both types of care, ask the agencies you interview if they can provide this type of care team.

In addition to connecting you with a variety of home health agencies in your area, A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can walk you through additional information about types of home care. They can help explain ways to pay for care that fits your family’s budget and how to best meet your loved one’s needs, all at no cost to you.