Receiving IV Therapy In A Nursing Home: What’s Involved?

In fact, if you’ve ever had a drip in the hospital, that was a type of IV therapy. Delivering medicines and fluids directly into a vein means that they are introduced much faster to the body. Your veins are pathways in the circulatory system which travels all over your body. You can imagine IV therapy as somewhat like getting straight onto the highway’s fast lane versus getting stuck in city traffic.

There are three main reasons why this treatment method is prescribed: To provide fluids, to administer medications, and to give blood transfusions. As you can imagine, lots of individuals require IV therapy for a range of reasons. These include but are not limited to:

• People with an inability to eat or drink normally.
• Those on a high-dose antibiotic schedule.
• Dehydration and/or electrolyte imbalance.
• Individuals who have lost blood in an accident.
• People who are lacking in essential vitamins and minerals.
• Some cancer patients.
• Individuals with an illness that interferes with the normal absorption of essential nutrients.

Skilled nurses insert a direct vein access tube, called a catheter, in one of two places. Either in a peripheral vein (the most common) or on a central vein (least common).

Peripheral means a vein in your hand, wrist, arm, legs, or feet. Central means the doctor will install a direct line via a larger vein in the torso. Because there is an increased risk of infection, central lines (sometimes called ports) are not used very often.

Once the nurse has access to your vein, they can hook up the required fluids, medicine, or blood. This is usually delivered from a bag that hangs above the entry point.

Although this might sound uncomfortable, it rarely causes patients any discomfort.

Of late, IV therapy has become a bit of a buzzword and IV clinics are appearing around the country. These should not be confused with the proper IV therapy that is offered in a skilled nursing facility. More often than not, these IV clinics just provide vitamins and may do so incorrectly.

Furthermore, unskilled staff with poor medical knowledge may make mistakes and cause further health issues rather than heal them.

Receiving IV therapy in a nursing home or care setting is a great way to get you back on your feet again, if you battle with a serious condition. Don’t hesitate to contact us to find out how we can help, If you have any questions about our therapies.