While continuum care is a popular concept in the West, back home people need to wake up to its benefits and importance in the optimal recovery of a person be it an acute or chronic illness.
For those who consider it a foreign term and are still unaware of what it entails, continuum care is the bridge between hospital and home. When a person is dealing with an acute or a chronic condition, and has had surgery or an injury they need to recover completely.
For complete recovery, they need the following based on the severity of their condition.
- Rest adequately.
- Undergo multiple therapies like physical, occupational, and hydrotherapy,
- Constant monitoring by doctors, nurses, and caregivers is needed.
- Need nutritional support,
- Alternative therapies and treatments like yoga, laughter, and music therapy are needed.
It can get very challenging for the family to arrange for all the above services at home and be vigilant and the slightest of neglect can lead to a relapse which can prove traumatizing for the person and the family. It can be the cause of complications and readmission to the hospital.
Although the role of continuum care is well-defined one must ensure that the facility they are choosing is well-equipped and can deliver all the required services matching international Standards.
These are the must-haves of a good continuum care facility
- The atmosphere: The first thing a good continuum care facility must have is a pleasant and comfortable ambiance that puts the person at ease. The surroundings shouldn’t remind them of the unpleasantness of the hospital and give them a feel of their home where they can relax and recuperate.
- The team: The facility should be well-equipped with a team of experienced, skilled, and dedicated doctors, nurses, and caregivers to provide optimum care and help the person feel better every day and get back to their normal routine as soon as possible.
- The standard: The facility should be accredited by the required organizations to maintain the highest quality of treatment as per international standards. The center should also be equipped with the latest machines and devices that help people recuperate faster and better.
- The support: Recuperation is an important aspect of recovery and involves multiple aspects that go beyond medical care. Alternative therapies like counseling, music, laughter therapies, hydrotherapy, and yoga play a very important role in the healing process. Additionally, people admitted need the right kind of diet to avoid complications and faster recovery. The facility should include all these services and offer a complete package.
- Hygiene: The person undergoing recovery must be protected from infections and other diseases, hence hygiene plays a very vital role. While choosing the right facility one must check the level of cleanliness of the facility as well as the staff and inquire about the sanitization measures that are deployed.
- The services: Most of the time people may be required to stay in a facility for a long period so the facility should provide services like laundry and nutritious meals that are an integral part of daily routine for the sake of comfort. Moreover, it can get very lonely for a person to stay alone without their loved ones for a prolonged time. Therefore the facility must allow a friend or a family member to stay with the person.
- Continuation of services: A person usually gets accustomed to a certain caregiver or a therapist during their stay. To continue the treatment and ensure the comfort of the person the facility should be able to provide the continuity of services at home through the same staff if required.
- Proximity to a hospital and emergency care: The continuum care facility must be near a hospital in case of any emergencies so that the person can be shifted with the required care and support quickly to a hospital without delay. The facility should have 24/ 7 doctor support to handle emergencies and do the needful.
- The cost factor: This can be a deciding factor for many people. The facility should have package options that a person can avail of as per their budget, preference, and requirement and should not be over-priced. Additionally, the continuum care facility should accommodate insurance coverage.
- Education and entertainment: The facility should offer diversion to the people admitted in terms of reading material and other activities that help them keep busy throughout the day and take their mind off their situation for some time. The center should also organize events and programs that make their patrons happy and feel cheerful while they deal with their condition and inspire them to be stronger.
A continuum care facility is a home away from home and helps a person recover well so that there are no relapses and complications that can create additional challenges for them and their loved ones. Before choosing a good continuum care facility use the checklist provided above so that the entire process is a pleasant one. Sukino Healthcare is India’s first continuum care center and offers differential and comprehensive services to people with multiple ailments.
