Everything You Need to Know About Home Health Aides
If you are the primary caregiver for an elderly or disabled individual, you likely wonder what other alternatives are available for their care. Fortunately, there are many ways to allow your loved one to stay in the comfort of their own home while providing them with the daily support they require.
But what happens if you go out of town for the weekend? What if your loved one requires overnight care? These questions often plague the minds of caregivers, forcing them to give up vacations or activities that they enjoy.
Do home health aides stay overnight? Yes! Many home health aides offer 24/7 services depending on the needs of their clients. You can work with a home health aide who provides their services overnight or simply on the rare occasion that you are out of town for the evening.
Overnight care from a home health aide is the best way to provide your loved one with the quality care they deserve.
So, is hiring an overnight home health aide expensive? Do they work through the night or are they simply at home in case your loved one wakes up?
In this post, we will cover everything you need to know about home health aides, the overnight services they offer, and much more. We hope that after reading this, you feel equipped to make decisions regarding quality care for your loved one.
There are countless methods of caring for your elderly or disabled loved one. From assisted living facilities to live-in caregivers and everything in between, it can be challenging to determine which alternative is best suited for your unique situation.
For many individuals, a home health aide provides them with the emotional, physical, and mental support and care they deserve.
What is a Home Health Aide?
A home health aide is a trained individual who cares for the needs of an aging or disabled individual within the comfort of their own home.
They often assist with basic tasks such as bathing, dressing, and light housekeeping.
In some situations, a home health aide will also provide basic medical care such as medication administration, wound care, or other tasks.
Home health aides are ready to respond to a medical emergency should something happen to your loved one while you are away. Additionally, the companionship and care they provide to individuals who are otherwise unable to socialize outside of the home is invaluable.
While home health aides may work for themselves, it is best to partner with a home health aide who represents an established company. There are many benefits to this including insurance, higher qualifications, and access to a wider range of services.
Additionally, if your loved one’s caregiver is ill or unable to work, the company will have another home health aide that can easily step into their position. This ensures that your loved one is always able to receive the care they need.
Home Health Aide Services
Home health aides often offer a wide range of services including personal care, hygiene tasks, housekeeping, medical care, and more. The services offered by each home health aide will vary. However, there are a few types of home health aide services that are consistent across the board.
Overnight Home Health Care
Most home health aides offer overnight home health care. If your loved one requires 24/7 assistance, this professional care is invaluable. Whether or not the home health aide will sleep during their shift will depend on the severity of your loved one’s needs as well as the situation you arrange.
Home health aides that are providing overnight care will often arrive several hours before the individual goes to sleep. They will help their client get ready for bed, and be ready to assist throughout the night as needed.
In the morning, the overnight home health aide will assist the client in getting out of bed and beginning their day.
Most of the time, an overnight home health aide is hired when the individual does not require much care throughout the night but is also incapable of remaining home alone. If your loved one requires consistent care throughout the night, you will need to partner with a home health care company that offers 24/7 care.
Respite Care
Overnight care is often provided consistently to individuals who live on their own yet require assistance. However, if you are the primary caregiver for your aging or disabled loved one, there may come a time when you need to find respite care.
Respite care services are provided through home health aides. They allow family members to travel or participate in outside activities without wondering if their loved one is safe at home.
A home health aide team hired for respite care will provide 24/7 care for your loved one for a set period while you are unavailable.
Many primary caregivers feel guilt over hiring a home health aide for respite care. However, it is important to remember that you can not provide your loved one with the care and attention they deserve if you do not first care for yourself.
Daily Home Health Care
The most common services of a home health aide fall under the category of daily care. These services vary depending on the unique needs of the client. However, they are provided with assistance with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, cooking, or exercising.
A home health aide providing these services will work a daily shift, leaving at night once their client is settled in for the day.
This is often the first step towards providing in-home care for your loved one before they require a more involved approach. A qualified home health care aide will assess the needs of your loved one along with any concerns you may have and provide a customized plan of care.
How Much Do Home Health Aides Charge to Stay Overnight?
The cost of hiring a home health aide to stay overnight with your loved one will vary depending on the severity of your loved one’s needs, the experience of the caregiver, and your geographic location. However, most home health aides charge an hourly rate for overnight care.
On average, home health aides charge anywhere between $15 to $20 per hour for overnight care. This may seem expensive. However, in most cases, the cost of in-home care is much less expensive than other, more permanent, alternatives such as an assisted living facility.
Qualities of An Excellent Home Health Aide
A home health aide will have intimate access to your loved one, their home, and belongings. Because of this, you must be able to trust them fully. As someone who is caring for your loved one on an overnight basis, you must be able to rest assured that they are capable of handling any situation that may arise.
Highly Trained & Experienced
Unfortunately, many individuals provide home health care simply because they believe it will be easy. These are not the individuals that you want caring for your loved one. It is important to find a home health aide who is highly trained and experienced with a passion for caregiving.
Offers a Wide Range of In-Home Health Care Services
The needs of your loved one are constantly evolving. It is important to find a home health aide who offers a wide range of in-home health care services. Doing so will allow you to provide your loved one with consistent care despite their changing needs.
The best professional home health care companies conduct a periodic review of your loved one’s abilities. This allows them to monitor the progression of care and alter the care plan to suit their current needs and abilities.
Respects & Values Your Loved One
Regardless of the abilities or physical condition of your loved one, they deserve to be valued. It is important to find a home health aide who values and respects the needs of your loved one.
The best home health aides will work to find ways that their clients can continue to contribute to society, reinforcing the fact that they have a purpose and a place in the world.
Convenient Communication
Especially if you do not see your loved one daily, it is important to work with a home health aide who provides convenient communication. By doing so, you will ensure that you are aware of any changes in your loved one’s health or well-being and can care for them most effectively.
Finding a Broken Arrow Home Health Aide
Finding a Broken Arrow home health aide can be an intimidating task. After all, this individual will have the huge responsibility and privilege of caring for your loved one! At Bright Home Health, we consider it a privilege to partner with you in the care of your aging or disabled family members.
Whether you require daily assistance, respite care, or an overnight home health aide, our team would love to discuss how we can partner with you! Contact us today for more information regarding our wide range of home health aide services in Broken Arrow.