It’s no secret that the population is aging. In fact, the number of people 60 and older is expected to double from 12% to 22% between 2015 and 2050.


It’s also no secret that many elder Americans are going to need long-term health care. This is especially true if you’ve got a loved one in need of care. Despite your best intentions, it can be a lot of work trying to care for an elderly loved one and sometimes, you can’t provide the kind of care they need.


If you have an elderly relative, the last thing you want to worry about is them having a medical emergency in the middle of the night, even if it’s just a slip-and-fall accident down the stairs. When and if a medical emergency happens, it can take some work to get your relative to an emergency room or even a primary care physician.


So what are you to do if your elderly relative needs care? One solution is urgent care house calls. Chances are your relatives remember the days when doctors made house calls. With urgent care house calls, they’ve been making a comeback and the trend is growing. There are many urgent care facilities around the country that are pioneers in the mobile urgent care industry and there are many benefits for senior citizens when it comes to urgent care house calls.


What can you expect from an urgent care house call? A team (usually a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant and a medical technician) will come to your house. Once they are there, they can offer the same services as an urgent care facility, treating everything from back pain to infections to allergies, to sprains to nose bleeds to lacerations and many more everyday ailments.


Benefits of urgent care house calls include:

• Cost: If you’ve got a loved one who lives alone and on a fixed income, one benefit of urgent care house calls is an afford cost structure. Most insurance types are accepted and out of pocket costs usually aren’t too bad. If a senior doesn’t have insurance, some urgent care companies charge a flat rate that can be paid for with a credit card. Ultimately, this adds up to savings over time, while still getting needed medical care.
• Quick turnaround time: It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old: taking a trip to the emergency room or a primary care office takes up a lot of time, a lot of money and can lead to a lot of aggravation. With urgent care house calls, patients can expect a total of two to three hours from the time a call is made to dispatch a team to the time the treatment or treatments are completed. It’s estimated the average house call lasts about an hour. This accomplishes two important things: it helps seniors get the care they need quickly and it allows the medical team to make a thorough diagnosis.
• More confidence: When it comes to receiving quality medical care, it can be hard for seniors to trust doctors and diagnoses. You’ve likely heard stories from friends and acquaintances about bad medical care. Fortunately, with urgent care medical visits, seniors will get straightforward care to help build their confidence. They’ll get an honest assessment of treatment options and quality care from experienced professionals.
• Comfort and convenience: More than three million people visit urgent care centers across the United States every week because they’re convenient and people can get in and out. House calls do the same thing. There’s no special trips out of the house to make, which means you’ll care in the privacy of your own home.
• Follow-up: House calls aren’t a one-and-done type of deal. While on a house call, medical professionals will discuss care options and offer health reports to primary care doctors or assisted living facilities. This helps senior care professionals and facilities gain better insight into their patients.

With urgent care house calls, seniors can have access to quality medical care in the comfort of their home. They can feel comfortable being treated for everyday ailments and build trust with medical professionals who are treating them.