Children with special needs are children first. And, like all children, they require a place where they feel physically comfortable, loved, and secure; opportunities to play and learn; people who care about them; and activities that allow them to be successful (source). Home care for children with special needs can help provide this ongoing support and medical care when families need it most.
What is home health care?
Home health caregivers may include nurses, home health aides, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and social workers. Besides nursing and therapy, home health care often includes personal-care services to help children who need special assistance with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, exercising, and even playing. Pediatric home health aides may assist families with nutritious meal preparation and light housekeeping. With the assistance they provide, home health care professionals can also give family caregivers the time they need to take care of themselves.
What are the benefits of home care for children with special needs?
Children and youth with complex medical needs, especially those with technology dependencies, may experience frequent or lengthy hospitalizations that can put emotional and financial stress on the family. For example, siblings and pets may be far away, contributing to the child’s emotional distress. For parents, the cost of travel and lodging, along with missed work, can be staggering. Pediatric home care for children with special needs relieves these burdens while keeping children safe in their homes and communities. Plus, home health care offers enormous benefits for the entire family.
Home Care Benefits for Patients
The number one benefit of home care for children with special needs is that it allows your child to receive personal care in the privacy and comfort of his or her own home, near family, friends, and pets. Additionally, it helps reduce readmissions to the hospital and can help children recover from surgical procedures more quickly and more successfully than when recovering in a medical facility.
Home Care Benefits for Caregivers and Loved Ones
As a parent, you will serve as the primary caregiver to your child and his or her siblings. But home health care provides any and all the assistance you need for your child’s medical and emotional care, allowing you to work and relax when needed. You can enjoy more quality time with your child with help from home health care professionals. And you’ll benefit from knowing that your child is receiving professional, compassionate, and personalized care in the convenience of your own home. Plus, home care makes it easier for family and friends to visit, is more affordable than inpatient care, and is tailored to the needs of each individual family.
Can Phoenix Home Care help my special needs child?
The goal of home care for children with special needs is to ensure that your child remains healthy and happy by getting the best home and developmental support available in an environment they already know. At Phoenix Home Care, we know that choosing the right home care agency is a decision that may significantly enhance your family’s quality of life. That’s why we recommend taking the time to thoroughly research home-health companies and ask about accreditation, scope of services, pediatric experience, and reliability. Ask our professionals what Phoenix Home Care can do for you and your family!
We provide in-home care for children with special needs in Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois. Our experienced nurses can provide a variety of home health care, including the following services:
- Medication administration
- G/J-Tube feedings and care
- Tracheostomy care
- Injections
- IV therapy*
- TPN
- Mechanical ventilation monitoring
- Accompanying to physician appointments
- And all aspects of daily routines, including personal care, and advanced personal care
To learn more, please contact us today.
* Phoenix Home Care does not offer pediatric home health. We cannot offer short IV therapy visits. If a child requires PDN and comes home with an IV antibiotic, however, we can absolutely cover it.
