Most large cities and metropolitan areas, such as Torrance and the South Bay region, boast a number of home care agencies that provide caregiver services for seniors and vulnerable populations. But with many options come vast differences in quality of care. And while companies try to highlight their “distinctions” in order to stand apart, few offer the one that matters most: registered nurse (RN) oversight and case management.
If you’re reviewing Torrance home care agencies for a family member or loved one with mobility limitations, such as wheelchair use or walking difficulties, be sure to prioritize companies with dedicated RN oversight and case management. Here’s why:
Falls & Accidents
Patients face a wide range of mobility limitations. Some are completely non-ambulatory (cannot support their weight, stand, or walk), while others may be able to walk short distances with help or supervision. But regardless of their capabilities, all people who struggle with mobility are vulnerable to dangerous falls and accidents.
Patients who spend much of the day in bed, for example, may sustain injuries if they fall off the mattress. They are also vulnerable to bedsores that can develop into serious wounds, leading to infection. Unfortunately, these experiences are quite common and especially for people with paralysis, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, or other neurological disorders. And even folks with limited walking capabilities can find they overestimate their abilities, resulting in dangerous falls.
A home care agency with RN “Director of Nursing” oversight, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, reduces these risks by creating a customized care plan. The Director of Nursing will address fall risks and other safety considerations and then ensure the caregivers are educated on risk mitigation techniques. Finally, the Director of Nursing will manage the case through periodic visits to assess risk changes over time. If bedsores do result in wounds, BrightStar Care can help coordinate Medicare home health services or even provide its own concierge agency nurses.
Hoyer Lifts & Medical Equipment
Patients with limited mobility often rely on specialized medical equipment, such as hoyer lifts, wheelchairs, and walkers. Some of these devices are more intuitive than others, but all can pose risk when used incorrectly. And caregivers typically assist patients in the use of such equipment.
Hoyer lifts, specifically, must be operated by someone other than the patient. But many home care agency caregivers are not confident in their function. A company with a RN Director of Nursing, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, can train caregivers on the proper use of all medical equipment to reduce risk and improve patients’ quality of life.
Ongoing Caregiver Training & Oversight
As mentioned, a home care agency with RN oversight can train caregivers on the proper use of safety-focused medical equipment and can share other risk mitigation strategies. But BrightStar Care of Torrance’s Director of Nursing can also modify training in real time, as necessary.
Perhaps the Director of Nursing notices her patient’s gait has changed since the last visit. If so, she can update the caregiver and provide on-the-spot training of how to better supervise the patient during walks. Or if the RN feels her patient is vulnerable to wounds, she can teach the home care aide techniques for avoiding bedsores. The Director of Nursing can address any caregiver questions in real time and ensure the modified care plan is attended to with no confusion on expectations.
Disease Management & Comorbidities
Many patients with limited mobility also battle multiple diseases. For example, a person with advanced CHF who uses a wheelchair may also have diabetes. These “comorbidities” exasperate each other and dramatically increase the risk of medical emergencies.
While some people with limited mobility are otherwise healthy, many others are at generally high risk for medical complications. A home care agency with RN oversight, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, is best suited to care for the needs of patients battling multiple, serious diseases. Taking the example stated above, RN oversight helps to ensure medication adherence, which directly impacts management of diabetes. A Director of Nursing might also detect signs of unmanaged diabetes that contribute to fall risk, such as swollen legs.
Care Coordination
Home-based medical care is getting more-and-more common these days. COVID-19 has obviously accelerated this trend, but truthfully, the transition from facility to home started over a decade ago. Many home-based healthcare services are highly effective, and they solve a major problem for physicians: patient compliance (or lack thereof).
But with so many patients remaining home due to COVID-19, many are missing doctors’ appointments, medical exams, and treatments. And people with mobility limitations are especially likely to forgo care for obvious reasons. Therefore, a home care agency with RN Director of Nursing oversight provides more value than ever before.
The Director of Nursing may notice red flags and critical deviations in baseline vital signs during her regular visits to the home. She can then coordinate with the primary care physician and other medical professionals if further action is warranted. BrightStar Care of Torrance’s Director of Nursing has even gone so far as to secure doctors’ orders for additional medical equipment and has performed blood draws right in the home!
Final Thoughts
Families and healthcare professionals have many factors to consider when selecting a Torrance home care agency. There’s no shortage of South Bay caregiver companies, and each works hard to distinguish itself from the others. But at the end of the day, it’s hard to imagine any agency attribute more important than RN Director of Nursing oversight. And the value of RN care management is even more substantial for patients with limited mobility.
If you’re considering caregiver services for a loved one or patient, be sure to contact BrightStar Care of Torrance today for a free nurse-led assessment!
If you’re reviewing Torrance home care agencies for a family member or loved one with mobility limitations, such as wheelchair use or walking difficulties, be sure to prioritize companies with dedicated RN oversight and case management. Here’s why:
Falls & Accidents
Patients face a wide range of mobility limitations. Some are completely non-ambulatory (cannot support their weight, stand, or walk), while others may be able to walk short distances with help or supervision. But regardless of their capabilities, all people who struggle with mobility are vulnerable to dangerous falls and accidents.
Patients who spend much of the day in bed, for example, may sustain injuries if they fall off the mattress. They are also vulnerable to bedsores that can develop into serious wounds, leading to infection. Unfortunately, these experiences are quite common and especially for people with paralysis, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, or other neurological disorders. And even folks with limited walking capabilities can find they overestimate their abilities, resulting in dangerous falls.
A home care agency with RN “Director of Nursing” oversight, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, reduces these risks by creating a customized care plan. The Director of Nursing will address fall risks and other safety considerations and then ensure the caregivers are educated on risk mitigation techniques. Finally, the Director of Nursing will manage the case through periodic visits to assess risk changes over time. If bedsores do result in wounds, BrightStar Care can help coordinate Medicare home health services or even provide its own concierge agency nurses.
Hoyer Lifts & Medical Equipment
Patients with limited mobility often rely on specialized medical equipment, such as hoyer lifts, wheelchairs, and walkers. Some of these devices are more intuitive than others, but all can pose risk when used incorrectly. And caregivers typically assist patients in the use of such equipment.
Hoyer lifts, specifically, must be operated by someone other than the patient. But many home care agency caregivers are not confident in their function. A company with a RN Director of Nursing, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, can train caregivers on the proper use of all medical equipment to reduce risk and improve patients’ quality of life.
Ongoing Caregiver Training & Oversight
As mentioned, a home care agency with RN oversight can train caregivers on the proper use of safety-focused medical equipment and can share other risk mitigation strategies. But BrightStar Care of Torrance’s Director of Nursing can also modify training in real time, as necessary.
Perhaps the Director of Nursing notices her patient’s gait has changed since the last visit. If so, she can update the caregiver and provide on-the-spot training of how to better supervise the patient during walks. Or if the RN feels her patient is vulnerable to wounds, she can teach the home care aide techniques for avoiding bedsores. The Director of Nursing can address any caregiver questions in real time and ensure the modified care plan is attended to with no confusion on expectations.
Disease Management & Comorbidities
Many patients with limited mobility also battle multiple diseases. For example, a person with advanced CHF who uses a wheelchair may also have diabetes. These “comorbidities” exasperate each other and dramatically increase the risk of medical emergencies.
While some people with limited mobility are otherwise healthy, many others are at generally high risk for medical complications. A home care agency with RN oversight, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, is best suited to care for the needs of patients battling multiple, serious diseases. Taking the example stated above, RN oversight helps to ensure medication adherence, which directly impacts management of diabetes. A Director of Nursing might also detect signs of unmanaged diabetes that contribute to fall risk, such as swollen legs.
Care Coordination
Home-based medical care is getting more-and-more common these days. COVID-19 has obviously accelerated this trend, but truthfully, the transition from facility to home started over a decade ago. Many home-based healthcare services are highly effective, and they solve a major problem for physicians: patient compliance (or lack thereof).
But with so many patients remaining home due to COVID-19, many are missing doctors’ appointments, medical exams, and treatments. And people with mobility limitations are especially likely to forgo care for obvious reasons. Therefore, a home care agency with RN Director of Nursing oversight provides more value than ever before.
The Director of Nursing may notice red flags and critical deviations in baseline vital signs during her regular visits to the home. She can then coordinate with the primary care physician and other medical professionals if further action is warranted. BrightStar Care of Torrance’s Director of Nursing has even gone so far as to secure doctors’ orders for additional medical equipment and has performed blood draws right in the home!
Final Thoughts
Families and healthcare professionals have many factors to consider when selecting a Torrance home care agency. There’s no shortage of South Bay caregiver companies, and each works hard to distinguish itself from the others. But at the end of the day, it’s hard to imagine any agency attribute more important than RN Director of Nursing oversight. And the value of RN care management is even more substantial for patients with limited mobility.
If you’re considering caregiver services for a loved one or patient, be sure to contact BrightStar Care of Torrance today for a free nurse-led assessment!