Provisions To Make For An In-Home Nurse For Your Parents
Parents needing day and night help often means that they will need to go to an assisted living facility or that you and your siblings may need to pitch in to help them. Although quitting your job and responsibilities may not be a possibility, you all can pitch in and hire in-home nursing care for your parent. 24-hour care means that your parent will be watched by a rotating shift of nurses. To prepare for the at-home care and make the nursing staff comfortable, you should make certain provisions inside of the home, such as:
Provide a cell phone with plugged-in numbers
In order to provide the appropriate care for your parent, the nursing staff will need to know the numbers of your parent's doctor. Along with the medical staff that treats your parent, you should plug in the numbers to emergency care in the area. Your phone number and any of your other relatives who help with your parent's care should be on the cell phone so that nurses can get in touch with you. The phone should be kept on the person of the on-duty nurse, so make sure that the phone is small enough to fit into a pocket with ease.
Install a minifridge for their food
It will be necessary for the nursing staff that comes to your home to be able to keep food. Since most will likely work a full shift, they will need to be able to keep food at the home. The staff should have their own refrigerator so that your parent does not accidentally eat something that belongs to them. This is especially crucial if your parent or if a staff member is on a restricted diet. Install mini fridge under a cabinet or in a corner that is for the staff only. Let the staff know that they can fill up the fridge with their own items as they please.
Provide adequate transportation
Although you do not need to provide a luxury vehicle, it is a big relief to know that the nursing staff will be able to get your parent to and from all of their appointments and to any emergency appointment that they may need. Make sure that there is a car that your parent and their nursing staff can utilize that will remain at your parent's home. Be sure that the nurses who care for your parent are properly insured to drive the vehicle so that they can take your parent out at any time.