Home health aides, or HHAs, are an integral part of home health industry. Elder care is perhaps the most common occupation in which HHAs are found, but their services are used in a variety of circumstances. Home health aides are often employed to care for people who need help while recovering from surgery or undergoing rehabilitation after a serious accident or injury. Parents of premature babies may need help with care and therapy for their child, or developmentally disabled clients may need care and supervision at home. These multitalented health care workers can be found in nearly any situation in which people need a bit more help than can be accomplished by family and friends.
Function
Home health aides provide necessary care to individuals in their homes who are recovering from an illness or injury or who suffer from a chronic condition that requires long-term care. In most states, these paraprofessionals provide the same basic health-related services as nursing assistants working in hospitals or nursing homes. In other states, home health aides may be qualified to perform duties beyond that scope. Along with fulfilling the health care needs of clients, HHAs perform many other tasks related to the home environment.
Significance
Home health aides are expected to perform a number duties, operating primarily in the home setting. Health-related duties include providing care and assistance according to a care plan provided by physicians and nursing staff. Tasks that may fall to HHAs under the typical care plan include taking and recording vital signs, observing and recording changes in client condition and assisting with bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming. HHAs may also assist with exercises and therapies prescribed for the client, help clients with medications and give simple treatments.
Household duties can include meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, shopping and errands, with the goal of maintaining a clean, safe environment for each client. Home health aides can also transport or accompany clients to medical appointments or other outside activities and assist them in tasks such as making appointments and paying bills. Caring for the children of an ailing client falls under the duties of HHAs in many areas, as does instructing clients in self care to encourage independence.
Benefits
The availability of home health aides holds advantages in patient outcomes as well as in financial terms. Home health care has made it possible for many elderly, disabled or chronically ill people to remain at home, an alternative that is often more pleasant and less costly than nursing home placement. Hospitals can discharge patients sooner with home care services in place, saving on expenses and promoting better outcomes, since patients tend to recover from surgery or illness more quickly at home. Those who suffer from chronic illnesses have been shown to require fewer hospital visits when provided with home care assistance.
Considerations
Home health aides must meet certain educational and training requirements to be certified for their work. While the specifics vary according to the regulations of individual states, the basic requirements are similar. In most states, home health aides must undergo a training class, learning basic medical procedures, ways to lift or physically assist patients safely, nutrition and dietary information and a variety of other topics relevant to their duties. Many states require that HHAs pass competency tests to be certified to enter the field and at specified intervals throughout their employment.
Warning
While the vast majority of home health aides are honest, caring professionals, as in any industry there are a few bad apples in the mix. Clients can become very dependent on a caretaker who visits the home daily, making them an easy target for those who would take advantage. Client abuse, theft and other misdeeds do occur in home care situations. For this reason, many agencies run criminal background checks on employees and require references, and many states require background checks to certify home health aides. Before hiring a home health aide, consumers should find out whether such precautions have been taken.
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