Join now

Already a member? Sign in

Welcome to Inspire!

What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.

Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.

How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!

corner corner corner

Finding qualified home health care providers

Matt_M
0 Recommendations

Hello all. I'm new to the group and the whole topic.

My elderly mother has recently been placed on TPN as a part of her Crohn's treatment. She is still in the hospital, but hopes to be discharged soon. We are looking for someone to come in and help her administer the treatment, but are having trouble finding someone qualified. Is there a good source for finding help? She is in the Rossmore area of Walnut Creek in Northern California.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Matt

4 replies

kayjay35

We use OptionCare as our pharmacy provider for all of my husband's nutritional needs and they have arranged all of his home healthcare needs when necessary. I believe OptionCare is throughout the entire US. It is a division of Walgreens. So you may want to start with whomever is supplying her nutrition. Hope this helps.

Genia

I live in Ontario, Canada. This issue has been a nightmare for us. I would love to hear how others in my area have experienced this issue.

Genia

Novagrad

Matt:

I think Coram is nationwide and they are excellent.

Mimi

daviandsteve

Hi Matt!

Will your mom be living alone? It sounds like you want someone to come and hook her up, but what about disconnecting her when the infusion is finished? What about when the pump alarms (and they do!) and the problem needs troubleshooting? I'd feel very uncomfortable having an elderly person, who is newly on TPN, stay alone while infusing.

As to finding home care: usually the hospital has a discharge planning nurse whose job it is to arrange for whatever help your mom needs. There are several national companies that provide TPN and either have their own nurses on staff or contract with agencies. The hospital should not discharge your mother until ALL of the arrangements have been made. Ideally, the nurse from the company will visit her in the hospital, answer her questions, and put her at ease about going home with all of this new paraphenalia.

I strongly reccommend that you obtain a bedside commode for her, so she doesn't have to trek to the bathroom several times during the night, thus risking a fall; also, there will be less interuption to her sleep.

If I can think I've anything else, I'll let you know. Please do keep us posted on her progress.

Davi

Add to the discussion

Don't have an Inspire account? Join now!

Forgot password?

Helpful links from the Oley Foundation

Group leaders

You