Home Health Aid Types

By Author: Harold Spencer
Total Articles: 21
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Elder people usually need assistance with their home chores, medicine timings, shopping, and even personal care. You have the option to send them to a nursing home or they may be stubborn thinking that they can do it all themselves, or you can even want them to have the best care in their home and among their family and friends which is the best scenario in my opinion.

However, there are many types of home health aide and you might get lost trying to figure out what is the best for you and the care recipient. Here are the major types of home health care to help you find the best service to your needs.

Volunteer Home Health Aid
This is a great service offered by some organization to help elder people with companion and supervision. Some times with light housework as well, but they can’t provide services like personal care of bathing and grooming. They are great to keep your loved ones under supervision while being at work or appointment.

However, they are volunteers at the end, so they are not controlled by any rules to attend or to keep coming. You cannot also expect them to stay with the patient ...
... or to spend the night with him. The best about Volunteer home health service is that it is free and provided by many organizations in the society.

Private Home Health Aid
They are self- employed and you don’t have to go to an agency to hire them, you can post an Ad in the local newspaper instead. They are less expensive compared to agencies members and they can do personal care chores. You can set your expectations while interviewing private home health aid members and you should do it to make yourself clear.

Unlike home health aid agencies, you must check references and past experience yourself and it is your responsibility to make sure that the candidate has no criminal records of abuse or neglect.

You will have to pay for home health aid services out of pocket because they are not covered by insurance.

Home Health Aid Agencies
They offer major home health aid services and they have staff to do the personal care or medical care of the patient. They have certified members and they will check references and backgrounds of their employees. Some insurance companies will cover home health aid agencies expenses, so you will need to check that with your insurance company representative.

All the three types of home health aid have their advantages and pitfalls but they are all good. Make sure to choose the best convenient service according to your needs and with giving great care to the recipient.

ACH (A Caring Hand) is a New York State Home Care Service agency licensed by the New York State Department of Health and accredited with the gold seal of approval by the Joint Commission. For more information please visit: http://www.achagency.com