In-home Stoma Care
Nurse Next Door’s Registered Nurses (RNs) provide expert care for different types of stomas. Our services include stoma assessment, monitoring for complications, and taking care of the surrounding skin.
Life-Changing Ostomy Care at Home
If you’re living with a stoma, you may be experiencing multiple physical and emotional challenges. However, it’s possible to live with dignity, comfort, and confidence after undergoing an ostomy. Consider Nurse Next Door’s personalized ostomy care at home to improve your quality of life.
Understanding Ostomy Care
Over 130,000 intestinal stomas are created through surgery each year in the US. Ostomy care is required by those who have undergone surgery to create an opening on the abdomen for the removal of bowel or other waste. The waste is collected in an ostomy bag, which needs to be emptied and changed regularly.
Professional ostomy care at home is administered by a Registered Nurse (RN) with the training to assist with various ostomy-related tasks, such as assessing the dimensions and health of the stoma and adjusting the stoma bag. Those who don’t opt for proper ostomy care at home may face multiple risks, including infections at the stoma site, bleeding, and peristomal skin irritation.
Some types of home care services like ostomy and stoma care should only be provided by qualified and licensed nurses in Northern Virginia. But you don’t always need to go to the hospital for these services as Nurse Next Door provides in-home ostomy care. With our ostomy care nursing services, you can overcome and manage your health challenges without leaving the comforts of home.
What Does Ostomy Care for Elderly Patients Include?
Managing ostomy care for elderly patients can be challenging. Nurse Next Door has been empowering numerous patients in Northern Virginia through the following services.
- Emptying and cleaning the ostomy pouch when it becomes half-full
- Replacing the pouch with a new one every week
- Monitoring the skin under the ostomy pouch for signs of irritation
- Inspecting the shape of the stoma and ensuring its proper working
- Keeping the skin clean and dry
Empower a Loved One with In-Home Ostomy Care Services
Nurse Next Door specializes in providing various ostomy care services at home through a team of trained and experienced RNs:
Colostomy Care at Home
Sometimes, an opening needs to be created from the large intestine because of health conditions like colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. Our RNs can assist with pouch changes, monitoring, and skin care.
Ileostomy Care at Home
For ostomies that involve creating an opening from the small intestine due to diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, we provide specialized care. Our services include pouch emptying and changes, taking steps to keep the skin healthy, and monitoring and assessing the stoma.
Urostomy Care at Home
Urostomy involves establishing a urinary diversion. Urostomy care is typically required by patients recovering from bladder cancer, severe bladder dysfunction, and congenital conditions. Our RNs can assist you with urine pouch changes, preventing infections, and maintaining the stoma and skin health.
In-Home Nephrostomy Care
Those with kidney stones, obstruction in the urinary tract, or other kidney diseases often need nephrostomy. It involves collecting urine directly from the kidneys using a catheter. Our skilled RNs can provide nephrostomy care safely at home, covering services like changing the tube and dressings and observing the site for signs of infection and complications.
In-Home Jejunostomy Care
Many patients are unable to get sufficient nutrition via the mouth, especially after undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries or while recovering from certain types of cancers. In such cases, a feeding tube may need to be inserted into the small intestine. An RN can provide assistance with maintaining the tube and site, feeding, and observing for possible complications.
The Most Trusted In-Home Care Services
Since each individual has unique needs, our caregivers create customized care plans to make sure our clients receive the best in-home care in Northern Virginia. We’re among the few home care providers in the county that provide both non-medical care and skilled nursing at home. Our RNs, LPNs, CNAs and caregivers provide the following services:
First Visits & Assessments by Expert RNs
An initial evaluation to create a personalized care plan.
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care
Ensure comfort and keep your loved one’s mind active.
Ostomy Care
Professional in-home care for those who require ostomy care.
Companionship & Personal Care
Support for daily activities and overcoming loneliness.
Wound Care & Dressings
Comprehensive wound care services to promote healing.
Cardiac Care
Specialized care for complex heart conditions in recovery phase.
Catheter & Dialysis Care
Personalized catheter and dialysis care with dignity at home.
Orthopedic Care
Get back on your feet through 24/7 in-home orthopedic care.
IV Infusion Care
We provide safe and effective IV infusions at home.
Post-Operative Care Services
Recover quickly and comfortably at home after surgery.
Palliative Care
Find relief from various symptoms and discomfort at home.
In-Home Respite Care
Let us step in to help the family caregivers rest and recharge.
In-Home Hospice Care
Spend the final chapter of your life comfortably at home.
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Our skilled therapists stay by your side until full recovery.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Receive multiple long-term care services at home.
Medicare Home Health Care
Verify your benefits and receive personalized in-home care with Medicare.
We’re Local!
Nurse Next Door proudly serves seniors and families across Northern Virginia. Explore how we are changing lives in multiple cities, communities, and counties:
It’s as Simple as 1, 2, 3!
Your care begins with a convenient and time-saving process:
Free Caring Consult
You can call us at any convenient time to book a Free Caring Consult. During the consultation, we’ll learn about your needs and answer your queries.
Assessment by a Registered Nurse
Nurse Next Door’s RN visits your home to assess your needs, which allows us to design a personalized plan and match you with the most suitable caregiver.
First Visit by Our Caregiver
We schedule the first visit with a trained and experienced caregiver. You begin receiving personalized care and adjustments are made as your needs evolve.
FAQs
Begin by washing your hands and then remove the previous ostomy bag with care. Next, clean the skin surrounding the stoma and dry it. While doing so, check for signs of irritation or infection. After this, fit the new skin barrier around the stoma and attach the replacement pouch properly. End this process by disposing of the waste and washing your hands.
Usually, you would have to change the ostomy bag after 3 to 7 days. You shouldn’t wait for the ostomy bag to become full. Instead, empty the bag as soon as it’s half or 1/3 full.
If your loved one is experiencing skin irritation around the stoma site, you are likely to observe signs such as swelling, rash or skin issues, redness, itching, and oozing.
Yes. Many patients require ongoing professional ostomy care after certain surgeries to maintain their stoma health, receive support for ostomy bag changes, and continue living with dignity.
Consider drinking a sufficient amount of fluids throughout the day, especially during the summer months. To replenish fluids and salts in the body, consume the recommended amount of water and electrolyte drinks. It’s important to watch out for signs of dehydration such as dark-colored urine, decrease in the amount of urine, and dizziness.
Nurse Next Door matches you with trained, experienced, and licensed Registered Nurses (RNs) with the expertise to meet your various ostomy-related needs with skilled nursing services. Besides this, our caregivers are available round-the-clock to assist you with various Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
