How Does Home Health Care Operate?
Home health care is medical care that helps you get better after being sick, hurt, or having surgery. A doctor usually orders the services, and Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance pays for them. It can also help older people stay in their homes instead of going to a hospital or long-term care facility. This can be very helpful for people with long-term health problems like diabetes, obesity, or HIV/AIDS.
Home health aides help seniors and others with daily tasks like bathing and getting dressed. They also help make meals, drive people to doctor’s appointments, and do other things. They work under the direction of a registered nurse or another healthcare professional who tells them what to do. Some home health aides do skilled work, like caring for wounds or doing physical or occupational therapy.
The number of jobs for home health aides is growing quickly. In May 2020, there will be more than 3.5 million jobs in the United States, up from 3.3 million two years earlier. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says there will be 33 percent more home health aides by 2030.
Home health nurses help people who can’t get the care they need in a hospital or other medical facility. Their services include caring for wounds and pain and giving medicines and other treatments.
Most home health nurses are registered nurses (RNs), but LPNs and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) can also work in this field. To work, they must be certified and get a license from their state. They usually work under the supervision of a registered nurse.
As a home health nurse, your daily tasks include taking the patient’s vital signs, keeping track of their health and reporting on it, giving them their medicine, and keeping accurate records. Your job is to teach patients and their families how to avoid getting sick and heal from it. You must also speak up for the patient and talk to the doctor as needed.
Therapists who work in people’s homes help them get better from illness or injury in the comfort of their own homes. They work for a doctor or another medical professional and follow the care plan for each patient. They help with bathing, getting dressed, grooming, and getting around. They might also give medicine or other kinds of care.
Most of the time, they work for a company with which Medicare has a contract. This means they have been trained to provide skilled nursing and therapy services. But they also help with things that aren’t medical, like cooking, shopping, and cleaning. This kind of care is sometimes called a personal, aide, or companion care.
Home health therapists can work in various places, from small, local private practices to larger, national agencies. This is a great option for many physical therapists, especially those who want to reach more clients who prefer home visits.
As a home health assistant, you’ll help and care for people in their homes. Depending on your client’s needs, you will check their vital signs, help them with things like bathing and getting dressed, or give them medications. You can also help them shop, cook, and clean the house. It would help if you were in good shape for these jobs because you might have to lift, move, or transfer a patient.
Many patients have special tools, like wheelchairs and walkers, to help them get around and do their daily tasks. They may also need help with things like an oxygen tank or an infusion pump that are medically necessary. Home health aides work under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse (LPN), who gives them a care plan with instructions for each task they do. They have to follow these rules to ensure their patients are safe and protect themselves from being sued.
