A certified home health aide is a person who provides in-home medical care to ill or injured individuals. This care is basic and is not meant to replace medical care acquired from a doctor or other licensed health care practitioner. The demand for such jobs has increased considerably over the past ten years, and this trend is expected to continue until 2016.
The goal of the aforementioned care is to help patients stay in their homes. The latter is preferable to most individuals when compared with the need to be placed in a long-term care facility. Home health aides can assist patients to perform their activities of daily living while maintaining their independence.
Certified aides are trained to perform a broad range of services. Some examples include taking the client's vital signs, administering oral medications, helping him or her with dressing and bathing, and assisting the person to ambulate or exercise. Depending on the state regulations in the area where the care is being given, some aides are also allowed to perform massages, change dressings, or 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.
Insurance covers such care for many patients, and therefore it is essential for the aide to maintain records of the services offered. These records will then be used by the agency to ensure that the responsible party is billed. Of course, similar records must also be kept on clients who pay for their own care, as the health agency must maintain a file on each individual to whom they offer services. These records are kept private and patients are entitled to copies outlining the care that was performed at each visit.
A written exam and 75 hours of field training is typically necessary in order for a person to become certified in this line of work. The skills learned include lifting techniques, a thorough understanding of every facet of personal care, and good communication skills so that one can work effectively with a network.
When seeking care for a person who is homebound due to physical disability or illness, it is wise for one to choose a home health agency with care. Most establishments of this kind are trustworthy, but anyone who will have access to a person's home should be screened carefully. This can be accomplished by obtaining licensing information, or checking the background of the various agencies online.
When a certified home health aide has been selected, the patient and his or her family should evaluate the person's performance for several weeks after the scheduled visits have begun. If the individual is completing his or her duties to the satisfaction of the family and patient, long-term arrangements can be made. If not, the client may need to request a different person. When the steps listed above are followed, it should not be difficult to find the most appropriate person for the job.
The goal of the aforementioned care is to help patients stay in their homes. The latter is preferable to most individuals when compared with the need to be placed in a long-term care facility. Home health aides can assist patients to perform their activities of daily living while maintaining their independence.
Certified aides are trained to perform a broad range of services. Some examples include taking the client's vital signs, administering oral medications, helping him or her with dressing and bathing, and assisting the person to ambulate or exercise. Depending on the state regulations in the area where the care is being given, some aides are also allowed to perform massages, change dressings, or 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.
Insurance covers such care for many patients, and therefore it is essential for the aide to maintain records of the services offered. These records will then be used by the agency to ensure that the responsible party is billed. Of course, similar records must also be kept on clients who pay for their own care, as the health agency must maintain a file on each individual to whom they offer services. These records are kept private and patients are entitled to copies outlining the care that was performed at each visit.
A written exam and 75 hours of field training is typically necessary in order for a person to become certified in this line of work. The skills learned include lifting techniques, a thorough understanding of every facet of personal care, and good communication skills so that one can work effectively with a network.
When seeking care for a person who is homebound due to physical disability or illness, it is wise for one to choose a home health agency with care. Most establishments of this kind are trustworthy, but anyone who will have access to a person's home should be screened carefully. This can be accomplished by obtaining licensing information, or checking the background of the various agencies online.
When a certified home health aide has been selected, the patient and his or her family should evaluate the person's performance for several weeks after the scheduled visits have begun. If the individual is completing his or her duties to the satisfaction of the family and patient, long-term arrangements can be made. If not, the client may need to request a different person. When the steps listed above are followed, it should not be difficult to find the most appropriate person for the job.
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