Ineffective Coping Home Care Interventions
- The interventions described previously may be adapted for home care use.
- Observe the family for coping behavior patterns. Obtain family and client history as possible.
- Assess for suicidal tendencies. Refer for mental health care immediately if indicated. Identify an emergency plan should the client become suicidal. Ineffective coping can occur in a crisis situation and can lead to suicidal ideation if the client sees no hope for a solution. A suicidal client is not safe in the home environment unless supported by professional help.
- Encourage the client to use self-care management to increase the experience of personal control. Identify with the client all available supports and sense of attachment to others.
- Refer to medical social services for evaluation and counseling, which will promote adequate coping as part of the medical plan of care. If no primary medical diagnosis has been made, request medical social services to assist with community support contacts. If the client is involved with the mental health system, actively participate in mental health team planning. Based on knowledge of the home and family, home care nurses can often advocate for clients. These nurses are frequently requested to monitor medication use and therefore need to know the plan of care.
- Refer the client and family to support groups.
- If monitoring medication use, contract with the client or solicit assistance from a responsible caregiver. Prepouring of medications may be helpful with some clients. Caregivers in the home benefit from interventions that promote self-efficacy and provide a nurse for support (Dibartolo, 2002).
- Institute case management for frail elderly clients to support continued independent living. Difficulties in coping with changes in health care needs can lead to increasing needs for assistance in using the health care system effectively. Case management combines the nursing activities of client and family assessment, planning and coordination of care among all health care providers, delivery of direct nursing care, and monitoring of care and outcomes. These activities are able to address continuity of care, mutual goal setting, behavior management, and prevention of worsening health problems (Guttman, 1999).
- If the client is homebound, refer for psychiatric home health care services for client reassurance and implementation of a therapeutic regimen. Psychiatric home care nurses can address issues relating to the client's ability to adjust to changes in health status. Behavioral interventions in the home can help the client to participate more effectively in the treatment plan (Patusky, Rodning, and Martinez-Kratz, 1996).
- NOTE: All of the previously mentioned interventions may be applied in the home setting. Home care may offer psychiatric nursing or the services of a licensed clinical social worker under special programs. Traditionally, insurance does not reimburse for counseling that is not related to a medical plan of care unless it falls under one of the programs just described. Public health agencies generally do not have the clinical support needed to offer psychiatric nursing services to clients. Clients are usually treated in the ambulatory mental health system.
- Teach the client to problem solve. Have the client define the problem and cause, and list the advantages and disadvantages of the options.
- Provide the seriously ill client and his or her family with needed information regarding the condition and treatment.
- Teach relaxation techniques.
- Work closely with the client to develop appropriate educational tools that address individualized needs.
- Teach the client about available community resources (e.g., therapists, ministers, counselors, self-help groups).
