A certified home health aide is an individual who offers medical care to injured or ill patients in their home environment. They provide basic care that is not intended to be a substitute for medical evaluation from a physician or other licensed practitioner. Over the past decade, the demand for such positions has increased substantially, which is a trend experts anticipate will continue 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.
There are a variety of duties that certified aides may perform. These include taking the individual's vital signs, assisting him or her to exercise or walk, helping the patient dress and bathe, and administering oral medications. Depending on the laws in the part of the country where the client lives, some aides can also operate ventilators, perform massages, and change dressings.
The aforementioned individuals always work under the supervision of a doctor or registered or licensed nurse. They cannot diagnose or treat an illness, or offer medical advice. However, they are required to report any unusual findings to one of the individuals listed above.
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 looking for personal care for a homebound individual, whether the latter is ill or disabled, one must carefully select a health agency. Most establishments of this type are legitimate; however, anyone who will be coming into a person's dwelling should be carefully screened in advance. This can be accomplished by asking for licensing information on the company, and checking the background of each agency one is considering.
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.
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.
There are a variety of duties that certified aides may perform. These include taking the individual's vital signs, assisting him or her to exercise or walk, helping the patient dress and bathe, and administering oral medications. Depending on the laws in the part of the country where the client lives, some aides can also operate ventilators, perform massages, and change dressings.
The aforementioned individuals always work under the supervision of a doctor or registered or licensed nurse. They cannot diagnose or treat an illness, or offer medical advice. However, they are required to report any unusual findings to one of the individuals listed above.
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 looking for personal care for a homebound individual, whether the latter is ill or disabled, one must carefully select a health agency. Most establishments of this type are legitimate; however, anyone who will be coming into a person's dwelling should be carefully screened in advance. This can be accomplished by asking for licensing information on the company, and checking the background of each agency one is considering.
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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