HOME HEALTH AIDE
The home health aide program provides personal care services to patients under the supervision of a nurse or therapist. Home health aide services are utilized for those persons who do not have an available, capable and willing caregiver. The home health aide is a licensed nursing assistant who provides or assists patients with bathing, dressing, shampoos, special skin and nail care. They may assist the patient with transfers to bed, to wheelchair, or in and out of a shower, as well as follow up with prescribed exercise programs. The home health aide acts as a liaison with the nurse and/or therapist, informing them of changes in the patient’s condition. Their presence and assistance provides essential support in time of stress and illness. Frequency and time of visits are determined by the nurse or therapist, the patient, and the Home Health Aide Coordinator and is based on patient needs. Additionally, it is appropriate for the home health aide to carry out very simple homemaker tasks as they relate to the personal care visit. These tasks may include bedmaking, light laundry, washing a few dishes or light meal preparation. Aides may not transport patients or families and should not be asked to run errands, go grocery shopping or do outside chores that do not qualify as related to personal care. Physician ordered home health aide services are most often paid for by insurance.