Strengths and Weaknesses of the Home Care - Essay Example

"Strengths and Weaknesses of the Home Care" is a perfect example of a paper on care. 
Home care encompasses the care given to a family member because of his/ her inability to perform day-to-day activities. Home care comprises various categories namely, for wellness, nursing care, cleanliness and hygiene, physical support, friendship, baby care, home assistance, and therefore home care is also known as social care or supportive care.

            Home care differs from medical care (provided by doctors and nurses). Non-medical care is provided by non-medical individuals who are willing to devote their time and services for the well being of others. Home care intends to provide professional services to the individuals comprising, psychological dealings, abrasion care, managing pain, some physical therapy that is required or speech therapy, or any other occupational therapy. On the other hand, some assistance services are also provided under home care services that fulfill the daily requirement of the individual, these include food preparation, laundry, and housekeeping, transportation, etc.

            An increase in cost from $12 to $15 does not decrease the demand for home care facilities as this demand is increasing every year. For instance, home care booking was worth$6.3 million in 2007 which increased to $10.3 million in 2008 and with each year the bookings are increasing.   The demand could not be reduced as now in most of the families children are staying away from their homes due to job opportunities and hence they are not able to take care of their ailing parent(s) and hence they require some assistant who can take care of their parents in their absence.  The demand is mounting for nursing care as well as for meal preparation, laundry, etc (Donnelly, 2009).

            With an increase in the elderly population, the demand for home care is also increasing. People want to have some assistance and support to prevent themselves from falls and hospitalizations (Brindle, 2009). Moreover, it serves the monetary needs of the care provider as well, and therefore even if the cost of home care is going to mount further demand for home care is not going to diminish.

Strength of Homecare

            It is observed that hospital stays are reduced due to the enhanced home care facilities and recover faster as compared to the hospital stay. Insurance is more reasonable in-home care facilities. It relieves the other family members from the stress of managing a job and taking care of the ailing individual in the family and thus provides them independence. Care providers are skilled and better equipped in giving care which family members cannot give. thus the quality of life of the ailing family member and other family members improves (At home Care).

The weakness of Home Care

            The home care provider may not be capable enough to tackle the emergency situation. For instance, if the care provider is in charge of housekeeping and maintains the hygiene of the ailing family member and suppose any emergency related to the patient arises then the caregiver may not be able to react accordingly so the caregiver must be equipped and trained to provide all kind of assistance. Privacy at home may get affected. It is required that the care provider is responsible enough to understand the situation and should act accordingly failing to do so may affect the condition of the patient and also the life of the individual (Caring to the end of life).