What Can You Expect When You Hire A Cancer Care Service Provider?
Dealing with cancer is one of the toughest times you or your loved ones will ever have to go through in your life. It's stressful and tension-filled, and there are times you might not know what to do or how to care for the patient in question at home. Or you, yourself might need a little help as you recover. What can you expect when you hire a cancer care service provider?
Health Care Support At Home
When you hire a cancer care service provider, you are getting professional health care help for either your loved one or for yourself. This means that they or you can stay in your home for longer, as it's possible to receive hospice care while in the home instead of in a hospital or clinic. The care can be either short-term or longer-term and will vary depending on what the patient needs.
A home care aide can be trained in complex services such as wound care or ostomy care. They can help, along with a nurse, to give medications, help with moving around the home, and going to the bathroom. Other services can include bathing and dressing, cooking, cleaning your house, and other daily tasks.
Family Can Benefit
When a family member is sick with cancer, it can be very draining on the family to care for them when they return home to recover from surgery or other cancer treatment. Hiring a care provider can alleviate some of the stress and worry of caring for that family member on their own because they have an experienced, professional caregiver there to help them.
Some caregivers offer additional support other than medical as well. For example, some workers will stay with the patient as a companion if they are unable to stay alone while other family members work during the day. They may provide companionship for those who can't leave the home due to their illness or recovery for a few hours a day as well.
Can You Afford It?
You might be wondering if this is an expense that you can afford on top of all the other medical bills. In many cases, most agencies that employ cancer care services are Medicare-certified. This means they do meet the federal guidelines for patient care standards and both Medicare and Medicaid cover their services.
You may also be able to find some companion workers who work on a volunteer basis, so ask your medical provider for references to agencies to look into.