Home Health Aide Services
What Is A Home Health Aide?
A Home Health Aide assists the patient with personal care, meal preparation, ambulation and exercise during their recovery period. A Home Health Aide’s responsibility is to help the patient carry out their routine as specified by the patient’s physician. The focus of a Home Health agency is on the skilled medical aspect of care with the support of a home health aide. A Home Health Aide is available part time or on an intermittent basis. A Home Health Aide offers routine individualized care based upon the patient’s needs, as well as monitoring and reporting the health status of the patient. Health Aides must pass a competency test, adhere to state regulations and complete formal training to work for a Home Health Care agency.
What Is The Difference Between Home Health And Home Care?
Home Health is the medical care provided by a Home Health Aide to a patient in the comfort of their own home. Home Care refers to non medical care services offered in the home; usually by a Caregiver.
How Is Home Health Care Covered Under Medicare?
Home Health Care is covered by Medicare if you are homebound and your doctor feels that you require medical care at home. The home health agency providing care to you must be Medicare certified.
Signs That Home Health Care Is Needed:
Often we don’t realize that Home Health Care is necessary for the well being of our loved ones. Sometimes it takes a wake up call for us to realize how essential Home Health Care is for their recovery. It is also possible that their condition could slowly deteriorate in front of our eyes without us noticing. It is important for us to be aware of the signs to know when Home Health Care can be implemented to make a significant difference in our loved one’s life.
- Lack Of Home Maintenance
Health problems and lack of energy as they grow older, can prevent our loved ones from being able to keep up with their regular household chores. Overfull trash cans, the kitchen sink brimming with dirty dishes, uncollected newspapers lying in piles, the refrigerator full of spoiled food, are signs that they are not able to handle the maintenance of their home as they once were able to. - Poor Personal Care
Wearing the same clothes a few days in a row, mismatched clothing, an ungroomed appearance and body odor are indications that your loved one may not be able to maintain their personal care on their own anymore. - Weight Loss / Poor Eating Habits
Our loved ones can experience significant weight loss if they aren’t eating right. When they are not eating right their health conditions can take a turn for the worse. Certain health problems can prevent them from being able to cook. Due to these limitations they may be surviving on prepackaged meals that lack the proper nutrition they need. - Deterioration Of Social Life
As seniors get older their vision becomes impaired and could cause them to avoid driving their vehicle. Because they no longer lead active social lives they become depressed and isolated. They lose interest to do things they once enjoyed and no longer keep in touch with their friends and family. - Medication Problems
Forgetting to take medication or overdosing are common problems that seniors deal with. Taking medication improperly can cause their health to decline. - Falls And Injuries
According to research done on injuries, a third of the senior population between the ages of 65 and higher have fallen at least once in the span of a year. Falls are a very common injury amongst seniors and many do not realize that they are the 6th most leading cause of their death. If you have senior loved ones it is essential to ask them about falls and injuries they may have suffered from. They may feel too embarrassed to bring up the subject on their own unless you inquire about it. - Forgetfulness
Whether dealing with a form of dementia or just plain forgetfulness seniors can endanger their lives or others if they forget certain things. Seniors can forget to turn the stove off, feed a pet or lock the doors when leaving the house. Forgetting to pay bills and open their mail can cause financial complications.
