Home Healthcare Is Booming: Get Medical Care at Your Doorstep!

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON

According to Dr Ng Chin Nee, who is the Advanced Home Care Medical Lead of Sunway Home Healthcare, home healthcare services offer a range of services that allows for a wide range of high-quality care options that would be made available right in one’s home.

COMMON HOME HEALTHCARE SERVICES AVAILABLE IN MALAYSIA

• Nursing care. Skilled nursing services for wound management, medical administration, chronic disease management, etc.
• Personal care. Assistance with daily living (bathing, dressing, grooming, etc).
• Rehabilitation. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
• Companionship. Friendly visits and social engagement to improve mental wellbeing
• Respite care. Stepping in for family caregivers so that these caregivers can have some time for themselves.
• Rental of medical services and equipment such as wheelchairs, ventilators, hospital beds, etc.

THE ADVANTAGES OF HOME HEALTHCARE

“There are considerable advantages over traditional nursing home or hospital settings,” Dr Ng points out.

• Comfort and familiarity. Patients can recover or receive care in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by loved ones and familiar surroundings.
• Personalized attention. Home healthcare professionals provide one-on-one care tailored to each patient’s unique needs and preferences.
• Cost-effectiveness. Home healthcare can sometimes be more affordable than extended hospital stays or nursing home admissions.
• Reduced risk of infection. Patients are less likely to contract hospital-acquired infections when receiving care at home.
• Improved outcomes. Studies have shown that home healthcare can lead to shorter hospital stays, reduced readmission rates, and better overall health outcomes.

HOW CAN WE ACCESS HOME HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR OURSELVES OR OUR LOVED ONES?

1. Dr Ng Chin Nee reveals that you can discuss with your doctor if you believe that you or a loved one would benefit from home healthcare services.
2. Sometimes, a medical representative will discuss with you about these services while the patient is being discharged from the hospital.
3. You can also contact a private home healthcare agency directly.
4. Certain aspects of home care, such as real-time daily monitoring of the patient, can be done remotely via IoT.
5. Some types of consultations with doctors and other healthcare professionals can also be facilitated via platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom, and text messaging.
6. If you need to install a hospital bed or require equipment such as wheelchair and ventilators, they can be rented on an as-needed basis.

GOVERNMENT VERSUS PRIVATE HOME HEALTHCARE SERVICES

• Government home healthcare services. Certain government hospitals provide home healthcare services, but the availability and type of services may be limited compared to those offered by private agencies.
• Private home healthcare services. Dr Ng Chin Nee reveals that we can also contact these agencies directly to discuss our needs with them. They will then evaluate our existing home environment and work with us to create a customized home care plan. Such plans can be flexible depending on the patient’s needs and budget.