A Certified Home Health Aide Provides Valuable Services

By Audrey McGuire


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 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.

Due to the fact that many patients pay for such care with insurance, it is important for the aide to keep detailed records of the care provided. The agency then uses these records to bill the appropriate party. However, records are still kept on patients who pay for their care with their own money, as each individual must have a file with the health agency. These records are kept private for each patient and the latter are given copies of the care that was provided after 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.

After a certified home health aide is chosen, the person and his or her loved ones should evaluate the employee's performance for 2 to 3 weeks after the regular visits have started. If the aide is performing his or her duties to the family and patient's satisfaction, long-term arrangements can be agreed upon. If not, it may be necessary for the client or his or her family to ask for a different individual. When the aforementioned steps are followed, finding the most suitable professional for the task should not be difficult.




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