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Conventional Roles of a Home Health Aide
Posted by PHC | Blog
Sometimes, factors like age, chronic diseases, cognitive impairments, or disability can your ability to care for yourself. You may find yourself unable to take your medication, maintain a healthy diet, or perform regular tasks around your home well and safely.
Although friends and relatives could be willing to help, it may be inconvenient in the long run because they also have personal responsibilities to handle. When this happens, one of the best ways to prevent any unforeseeable inconveniences is to hire a qualified home health aide.
The role of a home health aide extends beyond assisting you with personal care and daily activities. They can also provide you with companionship and friendship and eliminate the need for you to live in a long-term care facility.
In this article, we review all the reasons you should get a Phoenixville personal health care aide.
Roles of a Home Health Aide
Home health aides are trained to provide professional hands-on help to patients who wish to remain at home. Overall, their role in your life depends on the kind of assistance you need.
Aides with specialized training can perform duties such as checking vital signs, changing bandages and dressings, or helping with medical equipment.
They can also keep you company, perform light chores around your home, drive you to appointments, or run your errands.
If you are finding it difficult to take care of yourself fully, here are three main ways a home health aide can help you:
- Personal care
- Daily living activities
- Light housekeeping
- Companionship
Personal Care
As an adult, your independence is of utmost significance to you. Despite having health challenges, you may wish to remain in the comfort of your home for as long as possible. According to a 2014 survey, around 87 percent of seniors prefer to stay home during convalescence or in the event of chronic illness.
Nonetheless, to do so, you may require extra help with your everyday personal tasks. A personal care aide can help you with bathing, getting dressed, oral care, eating well, and taking your medicine on time. They can also be present in emergencies and help you get through them or get professional help.
Daily Living Activities
Some people can handle their personal needs but require some help running daily errands. If this is the case, you can hire a home health aide to drive you to and from appointments or handle specific responsibilities on your behalf. They can also shop for your clothes or groceries and prepare your meals.
Light Housekeeping
If you are struggling to take care of yourself, keeping your house livable and clean can be overwhelming. A home health aide can perform light housekeeping tasks such as cleaning the dishes, sweeping, cooking, or doing laundry. Not only does this dispense you of the stress of doing these tasks yourself, but it also allows your family to relax and spend more time with you.
Companionship
Human beings are social creatures. We derive comfort from our personal and social relationships. Perhaps the most unprecedented role of a home health aide is to provide friendship. As you spend time with your aide, you may get to looking at old family photos, sharing stories, or reading together, as time goes by, you may find yourself with a trusted friend who you look forward to spending time with every day.
Final Thoughts
Illnesses and aging are eventualities that everyone must face at some point. However, being able to remain at home through all the challenges they bring can make a huge difference. The most efficient way to achieve this is by enlisting the help of a home health aide.
If you or someone you love is struggling with an injury, disability, or illness, call our Phoenixville personal health care office and let us help you find the help you need.