Getting to the doctor is challenging for many seniors. Seniors that no longer drive need to rely on family members to get to the doctor or take a rideshare or public transportation which can be physically and mentally difficult. Physician house calls are now available that make it much easier and stress free for seniors to get the routine monitoring and basic medical care that they need.
Physician house calls allow seniors to get care in the comfort of their homes. But they also allow doctors to get more accurate information that can affect the treatment plans they create. For example, a senior with high blood pressure may be over prescribed medicine if their blood pressure is abnormally high due to the stress of having to get to the doctor’s office. A doctor taking that senior’s blood pressure when they are at home where they feel comfortable will get a very different reading.
Some of the services that can physicians can perform for seniors at home are:
Primary Care
Seniors need to see their primary care providers regularly. By checking in on seniors frequently, primary care physicians can spot unusual symptoms or look for patterns of change that could indicate more serious health problems. Primary care makes it possible for doctors to prevent illnesses and prevent existing illnesses from getting worse. But seniors often put off their primary care appointments because of the hassles of getting to the doctor. When the doctor comes to them at home seniors are much more likely to get the primary care they need.
Chronic Condition Management
Often seniors have at least one chronic condition that requires management. Arthritis, diabetes, or even weight control can all be monitored with physician house calls instead of requiring seniors to come into a medical appointment. It can be very helpful for doctors to see the environment where the senior is living so that they can make recommendations based on the living conditions such as suggesting ways that seniors with arthritis can get around the house with making their arthritis worse.
Wound Care
Seniors who have ports, colostomy bags, or who have conditions which can lead to chronic wounds and infections like skin problems need a medical professional to clean and manage those wounds so that they don’t become infected. But getting seniors to a medical office for care means bandaging the wounds at home and risking infection by going out. It’s much safer for seniors to have their wounds cleaned and treated at home.
Bloodwork and Lab Tests
Regular blood work and other tests are what doctors use to keep an eye on a senior’s overall health. It can be stressful and difficult for seniors to get out to the testing facilities where they would get blood drawn or have other tests done. If seniors don’t want the hassle or don’t have transportation they may decide to just skip the tests. But doctors can draw blood and get what they need for medical tests from seniors in their own homes so that they can get the tests done that they need without any stress or hassle.
Primary Care @ Home treats patients between ages 18-100+ years of age. We specialize in Primary & Preventive Care, Chronic Conditions, Homebound Patients, Geriatrics and Intellectually Disabled patients all in the comfort of our patient’s own homes. If you or an aging loved one in Carmel, IN could benefit from our services please contact us today! (317) 471-0774
Dr. Horine treats adults including seniors and those with special needs. Dr. Horine Graduated from Indiana University and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, where he practiced until 2019.
He has a special interest in assisting home-bound patients to remain in their homes and out of the hospital.
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