What is Homecare Nursing? A visiting nurse that provides short or long term expert and compassionate nursing care and rehabilitation to elderly patients in their own home.

Rochester Wellness home care nursing program will not only administer general nursing care, but will also continuously monitor the patient’s condition, address social, emotional, physical issues in a manner conducive for the patients to kindle a desire to enjoy life and be active.

Our Nurses cater to all of the following:
• Providing assistance to patients in washing, bathing, or showering
• Changing of bandages
• Conducting sugar level tests
• Monitoring blood pressure
• Changing of catheters
• Mobilization
• Administering injections
• Dispensing medicine

INTERVIEW REPORT
Suchitra Bajpai Chaudhary
Senior Reporter-Friday Magazine
PO Box 6519, Dubai, UAE
When Ill, THE COMFORT OF BEINGCARED FOR BY LOVED ONES IS INCOMPARABLE. A closed second is being looked after at home by professional caregivers.

Suchitra Bajpai Chaudhary speaks to a few in the UAE to understand the challenges and rewards of the job.

It was sad for the family when old man S.M.K. (not his real name) passed away. The saving grace was the dignity of it all. Khalid, a stroke patient, was nearly 94 when he expired . But he died in his favorite room, watching the lofty peaks of the Jebel Hafeet mountains from his window, feeling the delicate fragrance of jasmines from creeper in his garden drift into his room, listening to the babble of his six-month-old great grandson and surrounded by his whole clan.

He died with a smile on his face. His family members were able to lay him in his eternal resting place, content in the knowledge that he had been very well cared for, had not single bedsore and had dies in absolute peace. This was made possible by the services of round-the-clock geriatric care provided by home nurses the family had arranged for. A modest sum in return for which he received full, attentive care at home and which allowed his family priceless satisfaction.

To live with dignity is everyone’s right but when health fails, when a person is terminally ill, when health fails, when a person is terminally ill, when an infant requires 24x7 care or a special needs patient needs the support of a care-giver, it is difficult and close to impossible for parents or guardians to be at the hospital at all times.

Many of these patients may have come from remote corners of the UAE, thus making it difficult for the other family members and relatives to travel to the hospital quikly in case of an emergency. After all, the truth remains, life has to go on around the central fear or anxiety of a loved of one at the hospital. It is precisely during such times that the idea of home nursing services seems a boon.

Recognizing the needs of the country, a few private and government hospitals have begun to provide homecare nursing services.

Friday met some nurses at the Dubai-based homecare provider Rochester Wellness Centre, to find out how the system works and the tremendous emotional and physical endurance called for from the caregivers.

Nerves of steel
“What you really need apart from all the training and experience is a big heart that can accommodate a lot of love and compassion for your patient,’says Zenaida Estoe. Estoe is a trained nurse who is from the Philippines and has over five years of experience in nursing around the world, including Jeddah, Singapore and now Dubai.

“Since we look after one patients are terminally ill or are special needs patients (in which case there is very little that we can do to improve their physical condition). Considering these factors, it is all the more important that we are emotionally strong to handle the pain and the trauma.

“The other most important thing for home caregivers to do is to overcome the language barrier. But sympathy and compassion have no language barriers. So whatever obstruction we face in comprehending the language of the patient is usually compensated by the care we provide.”

All in a day’s work
Says by the assistant head nurse, “We provide experienced nurses dedicated to the highest quality of the customer service is rendered with warmth, kindness and individual pride.”

Among the most important things to be considered while recruiting candidates who are right for this demanding job experience, followed by efficiency and knowledge, as per the head nurse. “But more than that I look for signs of emotional maturity in the candidates.” She describes how the care plan is worked out. When she receives a call for homecare nursing services from anywhere in the UAE, it mostly comes for geriatric care care or for terminally-ill patients. The contract could be for daily, weekly or monthly hire and the duty hours could extend from 8 to 16 to even 24.

The homecare nurse is expected to perform a lot of chores. She is expected to administer IV fluids, enemas, medication, I injections, provide first –aid in case of emergencies, know CPR procedures, defibrillation, suturing, give the nebuliser, dress wounds, clean the patient etc. among a lot of other duties.

“It depends on the kind of contract we have with the person who hires our services. So considering the gravity and magnitude of the job, a roster is drawn up and a minimum of two nurses working in different shifts are assigned for the job. Sometimes the numbers goes up to three if night care is required. An elaborate action plan is drawn up for the patient,” says Dallour.

“We tell the nurse that apart from dealing with the medical needs of the patient, sometimes she has to deal with the patient’s family on an everyday basis. This makes it imperative for the caregiver to be emotionally strong, calm and prepared to handle any kind of a situation.”

In case of the inevitable
Sometimes the inevitable happens. The patient passes away. It is hard on the family. But what about the nurse who has to remember that she is on duty and has no business to grieve? Not in the case of Anna Marie (not her real name), a young recruit who joined Rochester Wellness Center a few months ago. Her first patient, a retired army personnel from Ras Al Khaimah, was suffering from cancer of the larynx. He died in her care.

‘I noticed that he had not eaten that day and had very shallow breathing. I gave him CPR and called his family. He was 94years old and despite all my efforts, he passed away. I was so distraught, as he was like a grandfather to me. I couldn’t cope emotionally with his death and broke down.’

Ana Marie was unable to move on to her next assignment and suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. So much so that Rochester offices bearers decided to set up a stress support group for nurses, says by the specialist in rehabilitation medicine, who works closely with the nurses on the care of diabetic and geriatric patients.

Benefits of Senior/Elder Home Care Services
There is nothing like the comfort and security f home when you’re ill or recovering form an illness. Research shows that even for those living with chronic illness or disability, living at home is often the best option for physical and mental well-being. Some of the benefits of in home care include:
• Homecare is cost-effective alternative to hospitals and nursing homes.
• May help prevent or postpone hospital or nursing home care.
• Allows maximum freedom and comfort for the individual.
• Offers individualized care tailored to the needs of the individual and family.
• Provides professionally supervised services.
• Provides individuals needing care with dignity and independence.
• Supports families while keeping them together.