Living independently at home is important to most people, but sometimes you or your family worry about what might happen between doctor’s appointments or if something goes wrong when you’re alone. Regular welfare checks by a Registered Nurse provide reassurance while helping identify health concerns before they become serious problems.
Welfare checks aren’t just about quickly checking if you’re okay-they’re comprehensive health and wellness visits by qualified nurses who get to know you, understand what’s normal for you, and can identify subtle changes that might indicate emerging health issues. It’s preventive care, delivered in your home, supporting your safety and independence.
A welfare check is a regular visit from a Registered Nurse to:
Have questions?
Your local team of Client Care Managers are available to answer your questions and work with you to design a customized plan of care that is right for you.
Who Benefits from Welfare Checks?
Welfare checks are particularly valuable for people who:
Live Alone:
No one else present to notice gradual health changes or provide daily support.
Have Chronic Health Conditions:
Ongoing monitoring helps manage conditions like diabetes, heart disease, COPD, or chronic kidney disease.
Are at Risk of Falls:
Regular assessment of falls risk and home safety, education about prevention.
Have Recently Been Discharged from Hospital:
Post-discharge monitoring may help reduce readmission risk, identifies recovery concerns early.
Take Multiple Medications:
Monitoring for medication side effects, checking adherence, coordinating with doctors and pharmacists.
Have Limited Family Support:
When family lives far away or is unable to visit regularly, welfare checks provide professional monitoring and reassurance.
Are Elderly or Frail:
General health monitoring, maintaining nutrition and hydration, working to prevent complications.
Have Memory Concerns:
Monitoring medication adherence, nutrition, self-care, safety.
Are Isolated:
Social contact reducing isolation, emotional support, connection to community.
Health problems often develop gradually with subtle signs easily missed:
Early Warning Signs Nurses Identify:
When identified early, these concerns can often be addressed before they become serious, potentially helping to prevent:
What Happens During Welfare Checks
Initial Welfare Check Visit:
Comprehensive health assessment, understanding your medical history and current conditions, establishing baseline vital signs and health status, discussing your concerns and goals, identifying areas needing monitoring, developing a care plan for ongoing checks.
Regular Welfare Checks:
Frequency varies based on your needs-daily, several times weekly, weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. Each visit typically includes:
Health Monitoring:
Vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation if needed), weight monitoring, general health assessment, checking for signs of illness or decline.
Medication Review:
Checking you’re taking medications correctly, adequate medication supplies, monitoring for side effects, addressing any medication concerns.
Functional Assessment:
Mobility and balance, ability to manage daily activities, nutrition and hydration, personal hygiene and grooming, home environment safety.
Emotional Wellbeing:
Mood assessment, social connection, cognitive status, addressing concerns or worries.
Education and Support:
Health advice tailored to your conditions, answering questions, providing reassurance, connecting you with resources or services.
Communication:
Documenting visit findings, informing your doctor of concerns, keeping family updated (with permission), coordinating care with other providers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Gratifying Care is proud to committed to offer the best possible answers to all your questions. We have compiled a list of few questions that have been repeatedly asked to us.
How often will welfare checks occur?
Frequency is based on your needs and preferences. Some people benefit from daily checks, others weekly or fortnightly. We develop a schedule suiting your situation and adjust as needs change.
Can welfare checks be at different times or days?
Yes, we aim to accommodate your preferences. If you prefer morning, afternoon, or specific days, we try to schedule accordingly.
Will it be the same nurse each time?
Wherever possible, yes. Having the same nurse means they know you well, understand what’s normal for you, and can identify subtle changes more easily.
What if the nurse identifies a health concern?
If concerns are identified, we contact your doctor (or advise you to do so), arrange additional nursing visits if needed, inform family if you’ve consented, provide guidance about whether urgent medical attention is needed, adjust your care plan.
What happens if no one answers when the nurse arrives?
We have protocols for when clients don’t answer. We attempt contact by phone, check with emergency contacts, if genuine concern exists about your safety, we involve police for welfare check. This provides security-someone will notice if something’s wrong.
Can welfare checks include some personal care assistance?
Welfare checks primarily focus on health monitoring, but if you need some assistance during the visit (helping with medication, minor wound care, etc.), this can usually be incorporated. If substantial personal care is needed, we might recommend adding personal care services to your plan.
Do I have to let the nurse check my blood pressure every time?
We recommend vital signs monitoring as it’s valuable health information, but you have the right to decline any aspect of assessment. We’d discuss why regular monitoring is important and work out what you’re comfortable with.
What if I feel fine and don’t think I need checks?
Even when you feel fine, regular monitoring can identify problems before symptoms appear. High blood pressure, early infections, gradual nutritional decline often have no obvious symptoms initially. Prevention is easier than crisis management. That said, we discuss your concerns and work out a monitoring level you’re comfortable with.
Can welfare checks help me stay out of residential care?
Regular monitoring and early intervention can help support you to remain safely at home longer by working to prevent health crises, supporting medication management, identifying problems early, providing reassurance to family, coordinating care services. While welfare checks alone aren’t sufficient if you need intensive care, they’re an important part of supporting independence.
How much do welfare checks cost?
Costs depend on your funding. Support at Home Program: Covered by government funding. Home Care Packages: Included in package budget. NDIS: May be covered if approved in plan. DVA: Covered for eligible veterans. Private: We provide transparent pricing. Contact us to discuss costs.
Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical nursing services are delivered by qualified Registered Nurses working within their scope of practice and in coordination with your doctor and healthcare team. Always consult your GP or specialist about your specific health needs and treatment. Our nursing services complement but do not replace medical care from your doctor.