A Parent’s Survival Guide to Pediatric Home Care

Welcoming nurses and other home health caregivers into your home to care for your child may not be something you ever imagined doing. But if you ask other parents whose children receive home health care services, they are likely to tell you that they couldn’t imagine life without it.

That’s because pediatric home health care helps keep your child safe and your family together. It allows you to sleep, go to work, and take care of all the responsibilities you have. Over time, the nurses and other caregivers will likely start to feel like family. But in the beginning, navigating this new normal can feel overwhelming. Here are some ways to help make the transition to home health nursing a smoother one:

• First and foremost, remember that you are still a family, with needs and desires just like any other. As much as you can, try to find time for yourself and your family to do regular family activities. Arrange private time with your spouse, significant other, or other children.

• You can keep your child’s room cheery and kid-friendly, and still have the necessary medical supplies within easy reach. Try stowing them in the types of colorful bins and drawers that you would often see in a kid’s room (plastic rolling bins with drawers or an over-the-door shoe organizer are great).

• Providing your child’s caregivers with a list of “need to know” issues can be helpful. Don’t be shy about communicating your rules and expectations prior to your home care professional coming to your home. This will help create a positive environment for you, your family, and your home care professional. For example, where should they park? Where can they keep their lunch? What door should they use to enter? What restroom should they use? Where are supplies located? A dry erase board is a great way to help with communication and organization.

• You should feel empowered to address any concerns with your home care professional. If you are not comfortable speaking directly to your home care professional, contact their supervisor. Depending on the issue, at BAYADA, your client services manager or clinical manager would be available to assist.