Home Health Reviewing the role of home health aides

Reviewing the role of home health aides

456
0

If you live in Valley Forge and need someone trained to care for a loved one, there are some fantastic agencies around that can help. People suffering from age-related health concerns, chronic diseases, and cognitive impairments often need support around the clock. While you may want to care for the person, keeping up with everything can be quite a challenge. Your personal responsibilities will eventually come in between, and you wouldn’t want the person to feel neglected. That’s where Valley Forge personal care services can come in handy. If you are hiring a home health aide and wondering what they can do for the person in need, here is an overview for help.

The basics

Professional home health aides are trained to offer hands-on help and support to patients who don’t wish to move to a nursing home or a special living facility. The role of the aide depends on what’s expected of them. From doing the basic chores and ensuring continuous support, they do it all and can also check the dressings when needed and keep a tab on vital signs. Their role can be further divided into these categories-

  1. Personal Care: This includes support for everyday personal tasks, including keeping up with regular hygiene needs, oral care, taking medicines on time, and eating right. They can also offer help in emergencies.
  2. Daily Living Activities: Some patients can manage most things independently but still need support for running errands and going to appointments. A home health aide can offer help with activities of daily living, also called ADLs, which includes going out with the patient or shopping for groceries.
  3. Light Housekeeping: As the name suggests, the home care aide will also offer help for housekeeping tasks, including cleaning the dishes, doing laundry, and cooking. This allows the family members to get the support they need and reduces stress in the household.
  4. Companionship: Because a person starts missing social relationships when staying at home for a long period, they may feel more stressed and lonelier. A home health aide can offer companionship and care as a friend and ensure that the patient doesn’t feel left out. It is almost like having a member in the house.

A number of service providers offer this type of assistance. You need to choose them wisely because it is a matter of the health of your loved ones.  It is important to learn who is eligible to get these services. They are elders with disabilities and patients recovering from illness or injury. Patients with mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia can also opt for personal care services.  

One of the reasons why people hire these assistants is that they don’t need a prescription from the health care provider. These services are non-medical in nature. However, you can take suggestions from the doctor on whether it helps them recover fast. The patient will feel more relaxed if he or she has personal care assistant all the time. 

There are majorly three types of personal care assistants. First is the family caregiver in which the spouse or children are able to help the ill person. Second is the private care providers and they are not associated with any agency. Third, are the agencies that provide personal care services to patients. Depending on the severity of the illness, you should choose the right one. 

If you are still concerned about whether a home health aide is right for your loved one, talk to an agency and check what they can provide. Don’t shy away from asking the tough questions and only pay for the services you need.