The focus of care for the elderly often revolves around physical needs. That is the most obvious because you can see when a person can’t walk or needs help with personal care. 

What is often disregarded is the emotional and social support.

Losing your independence is a very traumatic experience and can have a profound effect on the quality of life a person leads. It could be something as simple as doing a crossword puzzle, playing checkers, or having a conversation about current events.

The type of activity does not matter as long as it engages the mind.

The best way to provide emotional and social support is to have a companion. This could be a friend, family member, or caregiver that can go and spend time with the person.

In nursing homes, that companionship can fall by the wayside. One out of every 11 of the nation’s nursing homes is staffed by an inadequate number of caregivers.  

How Much Time Do Nurses Spend With Patients?

What’s more is the American Nursing Association reports that:

• 1 out of 3 nurses report inadequate staffing levels.
• Every 2 in 5 units is short-staffed.
• 54 percent of nurses report excessive workloads.
• 96 percent of nurses report fatigue at the beginning of their shift.
• Half of nurses say they don’t spend enough time with their patients.

In fact, another study found that nurses only spend just over one-third of their time with their patients. This is due to fragmented work patterns and interruptions. “Over time,” the study says, “nurses spent significantly less time talking with colleagues and more time alone.”

In short: Nurses are burned out.

Consider Working For Spoon River Home Health Instead

At Spoon River Home Health, we are looking for home service workers, home health aides, and CNAs.

You’ll see a number of benefits working at Spoon River Home Health, including:

• Competitive pay. Plus, you’ll be eligible for employee bonuses and opportunities for full-time work.

• Flexible scheduling. We’ll work with you to set you up with a variety of patient types, as well as a schedule that fits your needs. Take care of your family while you work set shifts or a mixture of shifts.

• Comprehensive training. No matter your background, we offer our employees a training program that includes covers situations like dementia care, personal care, communication, housekeeping, recognizing signs of abuse and what to do next, HIPAA, and more.

What Your Patients Receive When You Spend More Time With Them

Your patients appreciate when you spend more time with them.

Home care allows for true one-on-one time with each patient. As you learn their routine, needs, hobbies, and favorite foods and books, you offer companionship and a listening ear on top of the services you provide to them.

This helps patients combat feelings of boredom, vulnerability, and loneliness. Meanwhile, you encourage feelings of independence.

If you are considering a career switch, apply now to learn more about home health care.