What Is Home Health Aid?
Home health aides are trained medical professionals who care for patients in their own home. Patients may be elderly, ill or disabled. The services provded by a home health aid vary according to the individual needs and the level of support offered by the family. Home health aides work under the supervision of a nurse or medical staff and provide a variety of basic home care and health related services.
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Basic Medical Care
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Home health aides will perform many of the routine medical tasks that are performed by nurses in doctors' offices and hospitals. Checking and recording of vital statistics such as pulse rate, heart rate, respiration rate and body temperature are regular duties performed by home health aides. They administer oral medications and may assist with wound care and changing non-sterile bandages.
Self-Care
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Home health aides assist patients with basic grooming skills and self-care. Aides may assist patients in getting in and out of bed and transport them from bed to chair, room to room, etc. For immobile patients, home health aides will alternate lying positions to reduce the occurrence of bed sores. They provide assistance with bathing, including giving sponge baths when necessary. Home health aides assist with toilet needs, dressing and grooming.
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Nutrition
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Home health aides will often plan meals, paying attention to any special dietary needs. In addition to meal planning, aides may do all of the food shopping and ensure that the home is stocked with all of the appropriate foods. They are generally responsible for meal preparation and in many cases will log the patients eating habits in a food diary.
House Care
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Although home health aides do not usually perform full house keeping duties, they may perform small cleaning and organizing tasks, such as making the bed, changing bed linens, doing the dishes, vacuuming and doing laundry. Some home health aides will assist the patient with minor financial and clerical work, such as paying utility bills, delivering mail and personal shopping.
Miscellaneous
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In addition to the basic duties, a home health aid may provide supplementary care. Some patients may need encouragement to become physically active while others may require emotional support. Home health aides will keep the patient mentally active by engaging in conversation, card games, board games. Home health aides need to be adaptable to the changing needs of their patients.
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