Emerging Trends that are Shaping Home Health Care

elderly care

As more baby boomers turn 65, the demand for elderly care continues to rise. The average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78 years.

Actually, in the next two decades, 10,000 Americans will turn 65 every year, according to statistics.

The increase in the number of senior citizens is not the only challenge. We are at a time when there are growing concerns over economic stability, healthcare costs, and employee retention. These factors are changing the nature of the in-home care service. As a result, more people are demanding better nursing interventions, client outcomes, and affordable health for seniors.

This article looks at some of these emerging trends and how they will change elderly care in the future.

Higher Demand for Specialized Care

In the past, the role of a caregiver was mainly housekeeping, assistance with transportation, and watching over the elderly. For that reason, providing care for seniors has always been seen as a low skilled job requiring little specialization.

But that has been changing with the increase in demand for home-based healthcare. 85% of senior citizens in the U.S. have multiple chronic conditions. For 24 hour in-home care to work, there is a need for specialized programs that can improve their health outcomes.

Some of the conditions that require specialized care include:

 

  • Heart Conditions.
  • Dementia.
  • Arthritis.

The challenge for Phoenix home care providers is to ensure patients with these conditions get therapy and palliative care. Palliative care refers to a healthcare approach that focuses on thorough assessment and early intervention of chronic diseases. The goal of the approach is to work towards improving the overall quality of life for the patient.

Additionally, evidence also suggests that social engagement, along with physical and mental activity, can improve the overall well being of seniors. As a result, elderly care providers have been focusing more on holistic care for the well being of the mind, body, and spirit. In-home caregivers today have to receive training to meet these new demands.

Highly Trained In-Home Caregivers

Because of the demand for specialized services, round-the-clock home care providers are also facing challenges in recruitment and staffing. The turnover rate for the industry is approximately 40% to 67%. With the population of baby boomers who need elderly care rising, the staffing challenges could become more serious in the future.

Another challenge is that there have been growing calls to increase the pay for low skilled labor. Home care providers must have better terms to prevent their employees from being swayed by other opportunities elsewhere. It is a significant challenge for many providers, given that it is happening at a time when specialized tasks require skilled workers. Not only do the working terms improve retention, but they can also have a positive impact on the reputation of the company.

Data and Technology

Data and technology will continue playing a significant role in improving healthcare. The role of technological innovation is becoming even more critical as providers seek to demonstrate the successful outcomes of their programs.

As competition between providers continues to increase, data is going to be useful in measuring performance. Companies providing elderly care can use it to boost their credibility. Clients are using it to make informed choices in elderly care services.

Tele-Health

Even though telemedicine is a form of care that is still in its infancy, there is evidence that it can be beneficial for home health care. A professionally trained caregiver may take the place of a physician to coordinate care remotely. The model can reduce the cost of treatment for the patient due to better clinical workflows and patient engagement. Telemedicine makes it is possible to improve compliance, enhance data collection, and improve the overall quality of care.

Bottom-Line

There are many changes that we can expect in the in-home care industry in the next few years. Increasing demand has brought new challenges that providers must address if clients are to continue relying on their service. However, these changes have prompted new developments that are bound to improve the quality of elderly care for the better in the next decade. For caregivers, contact Alarys Home Care today.