Medical Equipment Required For In-Home Care
By Living Better on August 21, 2020
There are a few situations in which one may find yourself taking care of a loved one from home. Be it an elderly relative or parent, or someone in the family suffering severe injuries, chronic pain, or health problems; there are certain things without which your challenges will be all the more significant. Fortunately, you can purchase just about any necessity these days, from portable defibrillators to medical-grade oxygen regulators for your in-home care.
There are innumerable options that may all seem equally necessary. However, it is an expensive and cumbersome endeavor to approach without discretion. We have listed some essential medical equipment you may want to invest in should you be looking at a long term home care arrangement.
Defibrillator
As with most home medical care equipment, a portable defibrillator does require training and certification to use. Training will enable you to practice potentially life-saving resuscitation in case of cardiac failure.
It must be only used in the most urgent situations, and best done by a trained medical caregiver. Having immediate access can be the difference between saving a life and tragedy.
Respirator
A small respirator or medical ventilator is a must-have. Should the person you are caring for not suffer a condition that affects their breathing, it is still likely that at some point they may contract a bronchial infection or have trouble breathing.
Having a respirator on standby will help reduce medical costs should hospitalization be required for the sole purpose of breathing impairment. This must be decided at the discretion of your doctor.
ECG Monitor
Many conditions may affect a person’s heart. It is best to have a full-time ECG monitor. Heart problems often develop in aging individuals, but a monitor will also indicate stress levels.
Unfortunately in cases of Alzheimer’s and dementia the individual may experience panic due to fear and confusion and this method of monitoring is your first warning of the onset of an episode which may then be addressed by way of medication.
Hospital Bed
The standard hospital bed serves several functions in making medical care more comfortable. Being able to recline the bed allows from moving from a lying down to sitting up position with great ease.
It also makes moving the individual a great deal easier. A hospital bed can be adjusted, as well as tilted. This versatility means that it is easier to move the person over to a stretcher if need be, and wheelchair access becomes a lot less daunting.
Professional Medical Caretaker
Rather than a piece of equipment rounding out our list, we would recommend the services of a trained caregiver. All of the medical equipment in the world is useless without someone qualified to make split-second, informed medical decisions.
It may sound a costly undertaking, but by limiting investment in medical care equipment to the essentials, you should find the option affordable. Besides, peace of mind is invaluable. Taking care of an ill loved one can be a traumatic experience without professional help. However, with the right equipment, the responsibility will be a lot lighter.
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