[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Home health care is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States (Maddox, 2019). Due to the changes in the underlying structure of the American population—most importantly, because people are living longer—senior care workers are more desired than ever. And that is with good reason: With professional, attentive home healthcare services, patients often report a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. Here, our home healthcare team offers an overview of some of the key duties performed by home healthcare professionals.
Five Duties of Home Health Care Professionals
- Provide the Proper Medical Care
As a starting point, home health care professionals are responsible for ensuring that patients get access to proper medical services. In many cases, registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) help to provide home health care support. If your elderly or vulnerable loved one needs ongoing, in-home medical treatment, a home health professional will make sure that they get the best available care. In every case, the process of providing home health care starts with crafting a fully personalized treatment plan. Your loved one needs a home care treatment plan that they can rely on.
- Monitor and Record Patient Condition
Another one of the key duties of a home health care professional is monitoring patients and recording relevant information. In many cases, this will be done by a Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) or a Home Health Aide (HHA). Though, some patients may require full-time care from a Registered Nurse (RN). When patient information is properly monitored and recorded, it will be far easier to recognize the early warning signs that there is a problem. With comprehensive information, patients are better able to get access to timely diagnoses and immediate health care services. Not only does this help to facilitate a better quality of life, it can actually save lives.
- Assist With Day-to-Day Activities
Many elderly and disabled people struggle with some of the standard activities of daily living (ADLs). A home health care professional can help to ensure that all important day-to-day tasks get done. In some cases, only minor assistance may be needed. For example, some elderly people get help with transportation, shopping, or strenuous housework. In other cases, more intensive intervention is required. For example, a patient may need help getting dressed or toileting. Regardless, it is a home health care professional’s duty to determine what exactly needs to be done to help the patient and to create a workable care plan.
- Train Family Members and Loved Ones
Often, family members and close friends are the people who are able to best provide support to their elderly and vulnerable loved ones. Of course, it is not always easy for an untrained person to know exactly what to do. This is where an experienced and compassionate home health care professional can offer some training and support to family members who are in a better position to help out. These services can vary widely from patient to patient. For example, in some cases, family members may get training on how to best assist their loved one with mobility issues—perhaps learning the proper ways to lift or turn a family member. In other cases, family members may be trained on nutrition, medication management, or warning signs to watch out for.
- Ensure Patient Health and Safety
Finally, the most important duty of a home health care professional is to ensure the health and safety of the patient. This is a comprehensive responsibility. Among other things, it involves carefully monitoring all health/medical conditions, quickly responding if there are any signs of a problem, and creating an overall safe and healthy environment for the patient. For many people, the best place to be is in their own home—but that is only true if they get the proper professional support. A home health care professional should ensure that the patient’s home is a safe, comfortable place.
Get Help From Our EEOICPA & RECA Team Today
At United Energy Workers Healthcare and Four Corners Health Care, we offer professional, attentive home health care services to senior citizens and other vulnerable people. If you or your loved one is a qualified beneficiary of EEOICPA or RECA, zero-cost services may be available. Our team handles the complete range of home health duties. To learn more about your options or our services, please contact us today.
Sources: Maddox, W. (2019) Why Home Health is One of the Fastest Growing Healthcare Markets. D Magazine. Retrieved from: https://healthcare.dmagazine.com/2019/02/22/why-home-health-is-one-of-the-fastest-growing-healthcare-markets/[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]