A Certified Home Health Aide Can Allow A Patient To Remain At Home

By Audrey McGuire


A certified home health aide administers medical care to injured or ill individuals in the privacy of their own dwelling. However, such services are basic in nature and are not intended to replace medical care obtained from a licensed practitioner or physician. The demand for jobs of this type has significantly increased over the last 10 years, which experts expect is a trend that will keep going until 2016.

The goal of acquiring such care in an in-home environment is to delay or eliminate the need for the person to be placed in a long-term care facility. The latter is not the preferred choice of most individuals. Home health aides can help clients with all of their daily living activities, and subsequently assist them to maintain their independence.

Certified aides perform a variety of duties. These include checking the patient's vital signs, administering oral medications, assisting the patient to walk or exercise, and helping him or her to bathe and dress. Depending on the laws the state in which the patient lives, some individuals employed in this capacity can also change dressings, perform massages, and operate ventilators.

The aforementioned individuals must perform their duties under the direct supervision of a doctor or licensed or registered nurse. They are not allowed to offer medical advice, or diagnose or treat diseases or conditions. However, if they notice anything unusual concerning the patient, they must report it to a doctor or nurse.

Because many individuals depend on their insurance companies to pay for such care, it is essential for the aide to maintain appropriate records concerning the care offered. These records are then used by the agency to bill the proper party. However, even those who pay themselves for their care must have a file in which the details of their case is recorded with the health agency. Privacy is maintained regarding such records, and each patient is given a copy of the care that was administered at each visit.

To become certified, aides must typically complete seventy-five hours of field training and pass a written exam. The skills one must have to complete this training includes the ability to help lift patients, a thorough understanding of how to provide personal care, and the ability to communicate effectively with the agency for which he or she works.

When pursuing such care for an individual who is homebound because of disease or disability, it is important to choose an agency carefully. Most home health companies are trustworthy; however, anyone should be screened carefully who will have future access to one's place of residence. To complete this task, one should obtain licensing information from any company he or she is considering, and research the background of the numerous agencies available. The latter is easy to accomplish online.

After selecting a certified home health aide, the client and his or her family should make an evaluation of the person's performance after two or three weeks of scheduled visits have been completed. If the person is performing to the satisfaction of the patient and his or her loved ones, they can proceed to make long-term arrangements. If the client is not pleased with the individual, a new person should be requested. If one follows the suggestions outlined above, it will likely not be difficult to locate the best person for the position.




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