Private Duty Nursing Care For Seniors: A Comprehensive Guide

Private Home Care Nurses: Caregiving and Medical Services

Depending on the state in which you reside, more complex symptoms and medical techniques might only be available by hiring registered nurses or nurse practitioners. After all, you will only want those properly trained to handle the most important medical tasks for your loved one. Depending on their level of education and certification/licensure, private duty nursing staff can typically perform several medically-related tasks, including:

• Monitoring a patient’s medical status and keeping detailed records for overseeing and partnering with medical providers
• Alerting family, other caregivers, and primary physicians of any changes in the patient's physical and/or emotional symptoms
• Administering medications, including intravenous injections
• Providing traumatic injury and wound care, including tracheostomy and ventilator care as well as tube feedings
• Providing hospice and palliative care for seniors
• Caring for those with chronic and life-threatening seizures and other disorders

Beyond medical care, private duty nurses provide companionship and personal care for their charges based on the patient's needs and capabilities. They can assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and assistance with bathroom needs and/or changes of adult diapers and catheter bags.

Much like other in-home senior caregivers, private duty nurses can provide homemaking services, such as light housekeeping and cooking for patients. However, there is more than physical care to consider; you will want to find a nurse that your loved one relates to and feels comfortable with. After all, they will be working closely with your loved one to give them the emotional and physical stimulation and exercise they need to age in place happily and healthily.

The Benefits of Private Home Care Nurses

The benefits of private home nursing care include taking care of the patient’s medical needs, in addition to tending to their active engagement in daily activities.

Medical Benefits of In-Home Private Duty Nurses

Private duty nurses carefully observe and document the progress and condition of patients who require in-home monitoring. These observations can lead to the discovery of necessary changes in treatment regimens, physical therapy, or care plan changes instrumental to recovery progression or overall daily comfort related to symptom management. Ultimately, a private nurse's medical goal is to prevent any medical complications and handle any that may arise through proper assessment, treatment, and monitoring.

Personal Benefits of In-Home Private Nursing Care

With personalized one-on-one care, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your loved one is cared for, even when you aren't there. For those who require full-time care, a private nursing team can offer families a great deal of respite while allowing patients to feel comfortable and confident within their own homes, as opposed to a facility setting. Most individuals feel more independent in their own homes and are more likely to engage with caregivers and become participants in their own care and recovery efforts. Furthermore, private nurses communicate daily with the family, making it easier to provide a steady stream of family support.

Private Duty Nursing Education, Skills, and Qualifications

With so many nursing licensure statuses and certifications available, the education opportunities and qualifications of these professionals are vast. Many candidates choose to obtain an associate's degree or attend vocational schools that prepare them for licensure in vocational nursing or as nursing assistants. These individuals have proven their knowledge in a classroom setting and have shown competence in performing many basic medical tasks. However, the most skilled in-home private caregivers go on to earn a bachelor's degree and pass the national examinations through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to become registered nurses or practical nurses.3

How Much Does Private Duty Nursing Cost?

Due to their flexible schedules and exceptional skills, private duty nurses see substantial fluctuations in their wages. Generally, a private duty nurse’s salary depends on the number of hours worked and the level of skills that are required to care for the particular patient. For all practical purposes, the average cost of hiring a full-time private nurse or a team for transitioning 24-hour shifts is roughly $50,000 to $60,000 per year. However, part-time care from nursing assistants or LPN/LVNs average about $29.23 per hour, though nurses with specialized training can demand higher hourly rates.4

Private duty nursing care for seniors can be wholly or partially paid for through:

• Private health insurance or supplemental long-term care policies
• Managed care organizations
• Medicare or Medicaid
• Veterans assistance
• Supplemental Social Security income for long-term illnesses
• State and federal funding assistance
• Grants from private organizations

If you are taking tours of nursing facilities, you will typically be introduced to the community's financial planning staff members who can help you sort out the various ways you can cover the expenses of private duty nursing care for your loved one.

How to Find Private Duty Nursing Near Me

Here at SeniorLiving.org, we strive to provide the most current and up-to-date information concerning all of your needs and questions about at-home care for older adults. If you are looking for private care nurses or any other type of arrangement to care for an aging loved one, explore the care providers in SeniorLiving.org’s directory today.