Types of Home Care Aid – Part Two

Frank C. writes in:   “My mother is unable to bathe or dress on her own.  What kind of service is best for her?” 

A great opening question to this month’s discussion on Personal Care.  The previous month discussed the responsibilities of Companion Care aides which are non-medical.  Personal Care or Home Health aides are trained to provide more assistance for individuals requiring a more ‘hands on’ level of care.  An assessment of the client in their home by the agency’s Clinical Services Director is the part of the process to help determine the best care ‘fit’ for the individual situation.   Additional instructions for personal care in the home may also include physician orders and/or other healthcare professionals.   Part Two of this series focuses on Personal care.

What is Personal Care?

Personal care generally involves working with individuals who cannot live alone without help. The nature of the assistance requires physical interaction between the client and the aide.  Personal care/home health aides complete both a training program and a competency evaluation or state certification program. Training includes information regarding personal hygiene, safe transfer techniques, reading and recording vital signs, infection control, basic nutrition and much more.  Requirements for certification may vary by state.  They receive detailed instructions explaining when to visit patients and what services to perform. Personal care/home health aides are largely employed by facilities and agencies and are under direct supervision of a medical professional, typically a nurse.

Personal care is available and utilized by all age groups who are unable to live independently without significant assistance in their activities of daily living or ADLs.  Depending on the circumstances the aides can be assigned on either a short or long term basis.  Discharged hospital patients who have relatively short-term needs as well as those with chronic medical conditions are the primary recipients for personal care.

As implied by the job title, the primary focus of a Personal care or Home Health aide is providing personal/hands-on care as well as emotional support and encouragement to the client. Personal care/home health aides help keep the household running as normally as possible and enable the individual to remain in the comfort of their home environment. Personal aides also provide respite care for the family caring for a convalescing adult and/or child.  Personal care is also appropriate within Assisted and/or Independent Living facilities where more individualized personal assistance is needed and either cannot be provided by the facility or is otherwise not available. Personal care/home health aides also assist in hospices and day programs and help individuals with disabilities go to work and remain engaged in their communities.


The Personal/Home Health aide may do light housekeeping for the safety and comfort of the patient - not heavy full housekeeping.  Aides also may help clients get out of bed, bathe, dress, use the toilet, and groom.  Personal aides also plan meals which can include special diets, shop for food, and prepare meals. They will also accompany the client to doctor appointments and social activities.  They report changes in the patient's condition to the family member and/or nurse supervisor and keep records of patient care.


Unlike companion care, the personal care duties are more physically demanding and daily routines can vary greatly. They may go to the same home every day or week for months or even years and often visit multiple clients on the same day. However, some aides may work solely with one client who is in need of more care and attention. In some situations, this may involve working with other aides in shifts so that the client has an aide throughout the day and night. Aides also work with clients, particularly younger adults at schools or at the client’s work site.

Home health aides and personal and home care aides generally work alone, with periodic visits from their supervisor. Aides are responsible for getting to patients' homes, and they may spend a good portion of the work day traveling from one patient to another.   Many of these workers work part time and weekends or evenings to suit the needs of their clients.  

                               Warmest Regards and Happy Spring Holidays at Home,

                                              

                                          Catherine Stelianoudakis Prochaska, CSA 

                                              Send Home Healthcare related questions to:

                                                                                                                                                         

                      Email:  homefront67@live.com