Home health aide vs. caregiver; the differences you need to know

What is home care?

The terms of home care and home health are a bit similar, and it’s easy to confuse them. Home care is non-medical care, and a doctor’s prescription is not required. However, home health is medical, and a doctor’s permission is necessary to get covered by insurance.

The range of the help varies and depends on the person’s situation. It could vary from preparing a meal to incontinence care. Although home care doesn’t need a license but is trained to provide the best care and services. The type of help could include;

• Aide in financial management
• Cleaning and hygiene
• Meal preparation
• Help with the daily living tasks;
  • Grooming
  • Dressing
  • Bathing
• Companionship
• Help with the mobility

Who can receive home care?

The following groups would highly benefit from home care services;

• The elderly need help with the ADL (activities of daily living)
• Family members need help with house chores, cleaning, cooking, etc.
• Lonely seniors who need companionship
• Elderly who face mobility issues and need help to get to places.

What is the difference between a home health aide and caregiver?

When you go to a home health agency to hire someone to care for your loved one, it is important to know the difference between a caregiver and a home health aide. However, there are many similarities between these jobs.

People who are hired as caregivers do not need special training, licenses, or certifications. Also, they are not responsible for medical-related tasks. Their main tasks are:

• Bathing
•  Shopping
• Homemaking
• Running errands

People who work as Home Health Aide need training and certification. However, training varies from state to state. Vocational schools and community colleges usually offer Home Health Aide training programs. Therefore, people who want to work as a Home Health Aide must pass the certification exam that is organized by the state. These people are not responsible for the medical care of the patient. Their main tasks are:

• Physical care to do activities of daily living such as bathing and toileting
• Simple dressings
• Checking of vital signs

Duties of caregivers in Home Assist

Help with daily personal tasks

You might have experienced breaking your leg or arm. In this case, you know how tough it is to get dressed, cook, or get to the clinic.

The same is true for the seniors as they have problems with almost every personal stuff. They often have to visit a hospital or health center. That could be the most difficult thing for the seniors if not having help. Home care can help them with the things they have to do and make life easier for them.

Mobility

According to Achemer’s Society, “physical activity is important for people with dementia.” However, “the type and severity of physical activity should be to the elderly’s abilities.” Studies indicate that physical activity has a positive impact on people suffering from dementia. For example, it can improve their mood.

A home caregiver can encourage and help seniors with the appropriate physical activity and improve their quality of life.

Transportation

Seniors or the disabled need to complete a few daily tasks that require getting around;

• Doctor’s appointments
• Shopping
• Medication pick-ups

Home care can help with all of them and make life a bit easier for families and the elderly.

Special care for a particular disease

Dealing with patients suffering from dementia such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s might be painstaking for families. They often lack knowledge of experience coping with new situations. Feeding, bathing, or even managing simple daily routines can become out of control.

In-home caregivers know valuable tips that can manage the patient very well. They can make life easier with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s patients as well.

Medication reminder

Managing medication can be hard for the elderly. They can get confused and take the wrong ones. They could also miss the right doses. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “More than half of adults 65 and older take four or more prescription medicines”. This is while “one-third of 50-54 years old adults take the same amount of medicine every day”.

Forgetting or taking the wrong medication for the seniors could cause;

• Confusion
• Falls
• Hallucinations
• Bleeding
• Hospitalization
• Organ failure

Not only caregivers aid with medication management, but they can get them from the pharmacy as well.

Home health aide and caregiver in Las Vegas

Home health and home care can be helpful in terms of taking care of the family members dealing with special health conditions. The article explained the differences between the two in-home care options in particular caregiver and home health aide.

If you need home health or home care in Las Vegas, Health and Care Professional Network is at your service. We have provided the best in-home care services to the residents for 15+ years now.

Give us a cal at (702) 871-9917 to receive the services or know more.