Being at Home Really Does Make a Difference for Home Health Care Patients

The healing journey is deeply influenced by the relationship between healthcare professionals and their patients. When patients feel supported and cared for, they are often happier — and happier patients tend to recover more quickly. Research consistently shows that a positive attitude and an optimistic outlook significantly enhance the healing process.

Home Health Care workers may know this better than anyone. The time they spend with a patient in the comfort of the patient’s home just adds to the connection they build during the healing process. It may be brief or can sometimes be quite lengthy, but whatever the duration, the outcome is always somewhat special.

Beth Bergin, a Speech Language Pathologist with Forrest General Home Health Care, thinks the Home Health Care team meets patients where they are. “We meet them at a point where they have dealt with a medical crisis that can be devastating,” she said. “To have someone come in and say, ‘I’m here to help you; we are going to get there,’ is significant for them. That does everything to change their attitude and the medical crisis that has happened to them.”

Bergin said even though some of the goals they shoot for are small, they may not be seen by everyone as something dramatic. “But for me, getting to be a stop along this journey of small steps to help this person get back to doing the things they used to do in their daily life, is impactful. You also get to see how their medical deficit and the things that have happened to them actually impact them in their home. My job is to help them get back to where they need to be.”

Her patients do become part of her extended family. “When you get to the end of their treatment, it is a little sad, because they are part of your family,” she said. “They ask you about the events in your life and you share stories, photos, things you did over the weekend with your own children. You also come into their home and bring a really positive attitude to them, because when they have had a medical event so significant that it affects their mental state, you want to be as positive, empathetic, and caring as possible. That helps them feel like they can trust you because you are there to help them.”

Bergin believes getting to know these patients and seeing their gain is also good for her, and very rewarding. “At the same time, their care for me is amazing. They are having difficulties, and when I get ready to leave, they make sure to tell me, ‘Be careful,’ or ask  ‘how much further do you have to drive?’ They are caring for me at the same time. It’s remarkable that somebody who is suffering through all of these things is still concerned and worried about me.”

These patients have Bergin’s number and know if they need anything, have questions, or just need to talk, all they have to do is call. “I’m not afraid to let them be that close to me,” she said. “A lot of people don’t have that level of family care they need. Maybe sometimes they just need to ask someone a question or seek advice for the direction they need to go.”

She also notes that for patients who don’t have anyone to visit on a regular basis, they look forward to seeing someone. “It can be very lonely and isolating for them,” she said. “For us to be able to go in and see them, it does uplift their spirits a good bit.”

Gladys Rodgers, a CNA, said she can feel the love of these patients when she goes into their home. “They have a big impact on me, and everybody treats you like family, hugging and talking. I go in to help them, and in the same token, they help me,” she said. “The love I feel from my patients is a genuine love. They aren’t going to let me leave if they think I need water or something to eat.”

For Jessica Necaise, RN, the most rewarding part of her job is seeing her patients heal, whether it is getting stronger, a wound healing, completing IV antibiotics, or just being able to be at home with their family.”

“My patients bring me joy when I see them succeed and heal,” she said. “I think we take that for granted sometimes. But when you actually get to see that patient go from not being able to walk 10 feet to walk 20 feet, seeing a wound that has held a patient back, to healing, and they can do what they want, is incredible - the joy it brings to you knowing you’ve helped that patient succeed.”

Kelly Thornton, RN, has had patients discharged from the hospital who at one time she wasn’t sure they were going to make it, but they made a full recovery. “Seeing a smile on their face and knowing they are going to be able to do things, go places, and be independent at home, that means everything, especially when they look at you and say, ‘thank you for all of your help,’ or ‘if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’ ”

Thornton’s patients bring her joy. “When I get up in the morning, I’m ready to go to work to see who I’m going to see, to see how they’ve been doing, and follow up with their families,” she said. “If you don’t have a job where you are ready to get up and go to work and enjoy it, you’re not in the right calling.”

Registered Nurse Zach Hodges said a lot of these patient don’t have caregivers or family they see during the week. “We may be the only ones that visit during the week, share a conversation with them, or share a smile, so to be able to make a difference in that way is pretty big,” he said.

“It’s rewarding to have the opportunity to be a light for those who may find themselves in a dark place. We share a lot of milestones together. They know about our life, and we know about their life. We celebrate together, mourn together, we get to go through life with one another and provide mutual encouragement.”