What Does a Home Care Package Include? A Complete Guide for Families in Dhaka

At Health Asia Ltd, one of the most common questions we hear from families in Dhaka is, “If we book a monthly care package, what exactly are we getting?” When a loved one is discharged from the hospital, or an elderly parent can no longer safely manage on their own, navigating medical services can be overwhelming. Does a “care package” mean you get a registered nurse? Does it include doctor visits? Will the staff help with feeding and bathing?

Understanding exactly what a home care package includes—and just as importantly, what it doesn’t—is crucial to avoiding hidden costs and ensuring your loved one receives the precise level of support they need. Here is a complete breakdown of how home healthcare packages are structured in Bangladesh.

What Is a Home Care Package?

A home care package is a structured, bundled set of medical and non-medical support services delivered directly in a patient’s residence. Instead of paying unpredictable hourly rates or hiring different freelancers for nursing, physiotherapy, and daily assistance, a package consolidates these needs into a single, predictable monthly or weekly plan. This structured approach ensures continuous, uninterrupted care, which is vital for post-surgery recovery, chronic illness management, and elderly support.

Services Typically Included in a Home Care Package

Depending on the tier of service you select (basic assistance, mid-range medical, or intensive ICU-level care), a professional home care package in Dhaka will generally include a customized mix of the following services:

1. Nursing Care

This is the core component of premium medical packages. Registered Nurses (holding a BSc or Diploma in Nursing) handle clinical tasks that legally require medical certification. Their duties include:

• Administering IV fluids, saline, and injectable medications.
• Performing sterile wound dressings and managing severe bedsores.
• Inserting, cleaning, and replacing urinary catheters and nasogastric (NG) feeding tubes.
• Monitoring vital signs and managing medical oxygen delivery systems.

2. Caregiver and Personal Care

Often the most requested service for elderly patients, caregiver packages focus on the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). A trained healthcare attendant provides non-invasive, daily support, including:

• Assistance with personal hygiene, bathing, grooming, and safe toileting.
• Help with oral feeding and strict medication reminders.
• Mobility assistance, such as safely transferring the patient from a bed to a wheelchair to prevent falls.
• Companionship to prevent the severe isolation and cognitive decline common in bedridden patients.

3. Physiotherapy at Home

For stroke survivors, post-accident patients, or seniors dealing with severe arthritis, regaining mobility is critical. Comprehensive recovery packages often bundle weekly sessions with a licensed physiotherapist to rebuild muscle strength, execute joint exercises, and prevent contractures right in your living room.

4. Doctor Home Visits

High-tier care packages eliminate the trauma of moving a fragile patient through Dhaka traffic for routine check-ups. These packages include scheduled home visits by a general physician who reviews the nurse’s daily logbook, assesses the patient’s physical progress, and adjusts prescriptions safely.

5. Specialised Condition Care

Generic care does not work for complex illnesses. Specialized packages adapt the staff training and daily protocols to specific medical conditions:

• Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care: Focuses heavily on fall prevention, memory stimulation, and managing behavioral changes safely.
• Post-ICU Recovery: Involves strict infection control, tracheostomy care, and respiratory monitoring.
• Palliative Care: Focuses entirely on pain management and providing comfort during the end-of-life stages.

6. Baby Care and Nanny Services

While distinct from geriatric care, leading home healthcare agencies offer dedicated newborn and maternity packages. These include specialized pediatric nurses who assist new mothers with post-partum recovery, infant hygiene, sleep training, and neonatal feeding support.

What Is NOT Included in a Typical Home Care Package?

To avoid contract disputes, families must understand what generally falls outside the base package price:

• Medical Consumables: Syringes, cotton, sterile bandages, adult diapers, and prescription medications are billed separately or must be purchased by the family.
• Heavy Medical Equipment: While the assigned nurse will operate an oxygen concentrator or a suction machine, the actual rental cost of the equipment is usually an add-on service.
• General Household Chores: Caregivers are medical support staff, not domestic maids. While they will clean the patient’s immediate area and manage the patient’s laundry, they will not cook for the entire family or clean the rest of the house.
• Staff Meals and Transport: Depending on the agency’s specific terms, the family may be required to provide daily meals for a live-in nurse or cover daily rickshaw fares for shift workers.

How Are Home Care Packages Structured?

Agencies in Bangladesh generally structure their packages around time blocks to match family schedules:

• 12-Hour Day or Night Shifts: Ideal for families who need medical oversight while they are at the office during the day, or need someone awake at night so the family can sleep.
• 24/7 Live-In Care: The most comprehensive package, usually involving two rotating 12-hour shift nurses or one live-in attendant, ensuring the patient is monitored around the clock.
• Task-Based Visits: A nurse visits for just 1 to 2 hours simply to administer an IV, change a surgical dressing, or draw blood for laboratory tests.

How to Choose the Right Package for Your Family

Do not overpay for intensive medical services you do not need, but never under-equip a fragile patient just to save money. First, ask the discharging doctor exactly what clinical tasks are required at home. If there are no IV lines, catheters, or complex wounds, a basic caregiver package is highly effective and budget-friendly. Second, assess your home environment—do you have a spare room to accommodate a 24/7 live-in nurse? Finally, review the agency contract to ensure the package includes a free, immediate replacement guarantee if your assigned nurse falls sick.

Stop trying to manage complex medical needs alone—contact Health Asia Ltd today to customize a professional, affordable home care package for your family in Dhaka.

Common Questions About Home Care Packages in Dhaka

1. What is the average monthly cost of a home care package in Dhaka?

Depending on the level of care, basic caregiver packages range from 20,000 to 28,000 BDT per month, while skilled registered nursing packages range from 30,000 to 45,000 BDT for 12-hour daily shifts.

2. Does a home care package include medical equipment rental?

Usually, no. The expertise to use the equipment is included, but physical items like hospital beds, wheelchairs, or oxygen cylinders are rented separately through the agency.

3. Can I upgrade my caregiver package to a nursing package later?

Yes. Professional agencies offer flexible care plans. If your patient’s condition worsens and requires IV medication, the agency can swap the caregiver for a registered clinical nurse.

4. Are medications included in the monthly home care fee?

No. Families are responsible for purchasing all prescription medications, though the home nurse will manage the inventory and ensure strict, timely administration.

5. What happens if the assigned home nurse is absent?

Legitimate agencies have standby personnel. If your assigned nurse takes a leave or falls ill, the agency will dispatch a qualified replacement to ensure no gap in patient care.

6. Do I have to provide food for the home care nurse?

This depends on the contract. Some budget agencies require families to provide three meals a day, while premium agencies include staff food and transport allowances in the base monthly package.

7. Is physiotherapy included in a standard elderly care package?

Basic packages usually only include passive mobility exercises done by the nurse. Specialized physiotherapy sessions by a licensed PT are typically added to the package for an extra fee.

8. What is the difference between a baby care package and a nanny?

A standard nanny provides basic supervision. A baby care package utilizes trained pediatric nurses who can monitor neonatal vitals, manage premature infant needs, and support maternal postpartum healing.

9. Can I hire a home care service for just one week after surgery?

Yes. While monthly packages offer the best value, most agencies provide short-term weekly packages specifically designed for post-operative recovery.

10. Are home care nurses in Bangladesh medically certified?

In a reputable agency, yes. Clinical nurses will hold a Diploma or BSc in Nursing and be registered with the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC). Caregivers hold specific healthcare attendant certifications.