What is Home Health Care

When a patient requires in home care on a daily basis, or formal care part-time, that is called home care. Non-medical home care includes medical professionals or helpful hands and aids that can come over. Nurses that come over for full-time care are usually used for more serious medical issues. Medical professionals and helpful hands bless this world with their care. Understanding what home health care is can be vitally important in helping you make the most informed decision for your family.

Aids are often nicknamed helpful hands. Some aids are trained in the medical field or were formally nurses or doctors. Others are just trained professionals that can assist in non-medical situations. For example, senior citizens often hire non-medical home care aids to help them with daily tasks. From washing dishes to doing laundry and grocery shopping, non-medical aids help people live the most normal life possible. Other people who use non-medical in home care include life assistance such as lifting when the patient cannot reach something, grabbing things off the ground when the patient cannot lean over and putting things together for them.

Some serious medical conditions require 24/7 medical care. Nursing that is available every day of the week, all hours of the day is usually helpful for diseases that are terminal or brain related. For example, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, Vascular Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia all generally require 24/7 nursing. As these diseases are incredibly serious, nurses must be trained on each disease individually and have the proper education to handle the severity of the treatment.

When a patient has a terminal illness or is currently at the end of their life, hospice care may be required. Within hospice care, the patient will receive psychological and spiritual support, not only medical care. The purpose of hospice treatment is to ensure the patient will pass away with comfort around a peaceful and well trained area. Caregivers and nurses in the hospice are trained to keep patients happy. They try their best to control any pain the patient may have. As most patients within hospice care are generally not expected to live longer than 6 months, it is a positive way to prepare both the patient and their family for the inevitable. Sometimes family cannot handle the responsibility of the diseases or sickness, making hospice care the best option available. Although the most common hospice care takes place in a hospital or nursing facility, many families choose to have hospice care in their home. It may be too scary and overwhelming to live in the hospital. This way the patient is able to pass where they feel comfortable and safe. Also, the entire family including the patient will be able to say their final goodbyes.

There are many options people looking for home care can choose from. Licensed practical nurses or registered nurses are usually chosen for nursing care required by those in extra medical need. Home care aids are usually general college graduates with added training by specialized programs or through pre-employment training. The state department of health dictates what each state requires for aid workers to be placed within a home care agency. To be certified, aid workers can take the Certified Nursing Assistant examination through the state. Home care aids also must take a background and drug check and have references to speak on the behalf of their character and education. In an ideal world, home care assistants would all be able to work when they want, without certifications. Unfortunately with safety concerns, serious diseases and the regular overuse of lawsuits it is important for all home care givers to be licensed within their state.