Signs That Your Home Nurse Isn't Doing Their Job Right

There may come a time when a loved one is no longer able to live alone or safely fend for themselves. And this is when questions about how to resolve the situation begin.

If you have the option of hiring a home health nurse to care for you and be available to you, it is true that initially this may generate suspicion and a lack of trust, since how can you be sure that your needs are being met ?

Below, we'll leave you a list of questions, the answers to which could help us know if the nurse caring for a family member is doing their job well .

What does the food you serve your family member look like?

Just as it is important to monitor how much food a patient consumes , whether in a nursing home or during home hospitalization, it is also essential to check whether they have an appetite, or if they are lacking enthusiasm for food , as this can have its causes.

While it's true that overly restrictive diets often discourage them and take away their appetite, poor presentation, lack of flavor, and lack of quality can also be factors that cause older adults to stop eating as they should.

It's important for the nurse or caregiver who is also in charge of our family member's diet to prepare a variety of meals, full of flavor and well-presented, so that the older adult has more incentive at mealtime. It's said that food also enters through the eyes, so pay close attention to a patient's meal.

What relationship does the nurse have with the Elderly?

The way a nurse treats and connects with a patient can be crucial to an older adult's emotional health . The treatment should be cordial, kind, and personalized, and above all, the older adult should feel comfortable and confident with their caregiver.

The nurse must establish a bond with the adult and also create their own communication codes. In many cases , a friendship can develop between the two, which will be very beneficial for the elderly, as they will feel supported and listened to.

Is your loved one properly groomed?

Due to medication, diet, aging, and/or physical deterioration, older adults may experience strong odors. Therefore, even if they are clean, we may often feel that they are not properly groomed.

However, if the home or the patient smells of urine and/or feces, it could be a sign of poor hygiene on the part of the nurse. It is important for the caregiver to follow a daily hygiene protocol for each part of the patient's body . Lack of cleanliness can lead to infections and injuries.

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Do you notice that the nurse is stressed?

If the nurse is overworked and under constant pressure, try to figure out how to resolve this situation, as your loved one may be neglected or need double shift care. There are patients with varying needs.

The time a caregiver must dedicate to their loved one is sacred and must be fulfilled daily without fail . Not with regard to medication, feeding, or personal hygiene.

Is your loved one relaxed?

If the loved one is happy, smiling, and calm, it's a sign that the home health nurse is doing a good job . Keeping them entertained, being a companion, and providing affection is one of the main reasons they feel comfortable and build a relationship of mutual trust.

Have you noticed bruises on your loved one's body?

It's important not to assume right away that any black or blue marks we see on an older adult's body could be a sign of abuse by their caregiver or nurse.

It's a fact that as people age, their skin becomes more fragile, and certain medications make it more sensitive. However, certain bruises shouldn't be ignored, such as a contusion shaped like fingers around the arms , or marks on the face, stomach, or back, which are areas where you're unlikely to be hit by a fall.

Does the home care nurse know how to handle a fall?

Falls can occur even under the best of circumstances, but it is important to observe how staff react to them .

Did the caregiver tell you about a fall? Did she check for injuries? Did she help your father get up safely from the floor? Did she later check for injuries that weren't initially obvious, such as a closed head injury that would cause a person to act more confused than usual?

After any home accident, the nurse should immediately contact the family to determine why the fall occurred and whether changes should be made to protect them from future falls.

We recommend a very interesting article from Theramart on how to prevent falls in older adults. Click here to read it.

Is the nurse meeting the older adult's personal care needs?

If your family member is incontinent, you should be informed about how many times a day the nurse changes their diapers or cleans them. It's very important to wash an incontinent adult and keep them dry and clean, as this can cause wounds and infections.

Did you find these questions helpful? Putting the health of our parents or relatives with disabilities in the hands of a nurse can be difficult at first. But it's a matter of time and choosing someone who is qualified to do the job and who can be involved with our loved one in every way.

Ensuring the well-being of the people we love who cannot care for themselves is a task we should all commit to , guaranteeing their rights and granting them an optimal quality of life.