Certified Home Health Aides and Their Key Roles in Providing Care

Aging is an inevitable part of life and as we get age, it is normal to need more assistance with day-to-day tasks. Whether it's due to illness, trauma, or the effects of aging, most people need professional assistance to stay healthy and safe. That's where certified home health aides come in. They can offer tailored care and support to a senior loved one's needs to maintain their independence and quality of life.

Here is everything you need to know about certified home health aides and their services.

What is a Home Health Aide (HHA)

A home health aide is a health worker trained to provide essential services to seniors, ill, or disabled persons who are unable to care of themselves. They often offer their services in the patient's residence.

Duties of a Certified Home Health Aide

Personal Care

It means any personal task. A certified home health aide can assist seniors in performing the following tasks:

• Mobility and ambulation

• Bathing, dressing, and general grooming

• Feeding, bathroom, and hygiene assistance

• Bed positioning, transferring, and incontinence care

• Monitoring vital signs and medication requirements

• Foot care, especially when seniors are diabetic

When it comes to offering personal care, home health aides have the necessary training to offer services respectfully and discreetly to your loved one's boundaries.

Medication Management

If your loved one has health issues and is taking medication, the top thing certified home health aides do is learn what each medicine is for and what possible side effects to watch out for. Then, after a comprehensive understanding of the medication, they will help your senior loved one stay on top of their medication schedule and ensure that they are taking the correct dosage.

If there is a need for a medication refill, our caregivers will also ensure seniors adhere to a refill appointment.

Companionship

Loneliness and isolation put seniors at risk of developing serious health risks such as depression and dementia. In this regard, certified home health aides can provide companionship and socialization to seniors to avoid feelings of loneliness and isolation and promote better mental health.

Meal Preparation

Good nutrition is essential no matter what age one is. It helps provide energy, control weight and may help prevent diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer. Whether your senior loved one has a tailored diet plan from their nutritionist or not, certified home health aides can prepare healthy meals and snacks that meet their daily dietary needs and preferences.

Light Housekeeping

Untidy environments are considered, in most cases regarded, as major trip and fall hazards for seniors. According to the CDC, one out of four seniors falls each year. Further, several studies have shown a correlation between clutter and mental health. A clean and clutter-free environment helps improve the following:

• Ensure better focus
• It gets rid of visual disruptions
• Improves indoor air quality
• Improves one's mood

Keeping a clean environment is crucial to being healthy. In this regard, certified home health aides can assist with light housekeeping activities such as laundry, dishwashing, and vacuuming to ensure your loved one is safe and healthy.

Daily Living Activities

Moving around is essential to keep seniors active. However, it can sometimes feel difficult, especially for seniors with limited mobility, to perform daily activities such as shopping, driving to a doctor's appointment, and running errands. However, certified home health aides can be very efficient at doing such tasks.

Aging is not bad; it's an inevitable natural process that we are all bound to go through. However, despite the challenges that come with age, seniors can create new memories, feel special, and enjoy life even in their golden days. Home health aides understand this as they always offer their best to help seniors live their lives to the fullest.

Further, certified home health aides can provide a unique service called respite care. This means they can step in to provide temporary relief and support. This can allow family members to take a break, recharge, and attend to their needs and well-being.

Let Our Experts Help!

Let us help you provide the care your loved one deserves. Contact Elite Home Health Care today to learn more about our quality certified home health aides can benefit you or your loved one. All our caregivers are certified and specialize in either elderly care or caring for the disabled. Our team of professionals comprises certified home health aides, personal care aides, nurses, therapists, licensed clinical social workers and dieticians. Whatever your individual in-home care needs are, our team of selected caregivers will be able to help you.