Home Health Aide-HOSA
What is a HHA? – answer HHAs provide assistance to the chronicle ill and elderly along
with their families.
Why has their been a higher demand for HHAs? - answer Medicine is becoming more
advance and increasing life expectancy. More people are living well into older years,
requiring assistance.
Where do HHAs work? – answer HHAs are hired by agencies to work at the clients
home, but many also work at facilities such as nursing homes.
Who pays HHAs? - Answer-insurance companies
-HMOs
-PPOs
-Medicare/Medicaid
-individual clients/families
Why are HHAs used? - answer People with chronic illness, disabilities, and the elderly
feel most comfortable being treated at home. Healthcare in familiar settings improves
mental and physical well-being and has proven to be a major factor in the healing
process.
Home Health Agencies - answer Agencies that doctors (sometimes hospital discharge
planners, social workers, or public health offices) refer their patients to so they can
receive at home care by an HHA or CNA. Usually assigned/picked based on clients
needs.
What must be evaluated for a HHA to provide care at a clients home? - answerThe
home environment. (the client is also assessed to determine what care should be
given).
HHA roles: housekeeping - answer-cooking
-cleaning
-laundry
-grocery shopping
-etc...
(prioritize based on client's abilities and your time with them)
HHA roles: family contact - answerHHAs have more contact with the client's family than
they would at a facility. Encourage the family to participate in the client's health, and
work as a team with them.
, HHA roles: independence - answerAs a HHA you are mostly independent, working
without a supervisor most of the time. Make sure you are responsible and can work
without supervision.
HHA roles: communication - answerYou must keep yourself informed on clients care
plan, and you must also inform your superiors about the client and their environment.
HHA roles: transportation - answerHHAs are responsible for their own transportation to
client's houses. Day/night, rain/snow, clients still need care.
HHA roles: safety awareness - answerHHAs must be aware of their personal safety
when raveling and working alone.
HHA roles: flexibility - answerEvery client's home is different the HHA must adapt to
environment changes and working with the client and the client's family.
HHA roles: adapting to the work environment - answerLayout of rooms, tight bathrooms,
rugs, pets, stairs, lack of equipment, clutter, etc... can complicate caregiving and the
HHA must learn to work around these obstacles.
HHA roles: showing respect for clients home - answerHHAs are a guest in the clients
home. HHAs must respect the client's property and customs.
HHA roles: providing comfort - answerOne of the HHAs priorities should be comfort for
the client. Home care should allow the client familiarity and comfort.
HHA roles: respite care - answerThe HHA must also provide care to the family ensuring
they do not "burn out" from the overwhelming pressure of caretaking. HHAs will offer
relief to families of clients by perform their duties and giving the family time to rest.
Why are there so many people taking care of clients? - answerClients will have different
needs/illness/conditions and to combat that there are many different healthcare
professionals that work alongside the HHA.
"Meet the team": HHA - answerHHA provides routine personal and healthcare.
- vital signs
-bathing
-cooking
The HHA spends the most time with the patient out of the whole team. They work as the
"eyes and ears" for the rest of the team reporting any changes/concerns about the client
or the environment so the team provide the best care possible.
"Meet the team": case manager/supervisor - answerUsually an RN. CM are assigned to
each client and create a basic care plan, monitor changes reported by HHA, and
changes care plan when necessary.
What is a HHA? – answer HHAs provide assistance to the chronicle ill and elderly along
with their families.
Why has their been a higher demand for HHAs? - answer Medicine is becoming more
advance and increasing life expectancy. More people are living well into older years,
requiring assistance.
Where do HHAs work? – answer HHAs are hired by agencies to work at the clients
home, but many also work at facilities such as nursing homes.
Who pays HHAs? - Answer-insurance companies
-HMOs
-PPOs
-Medicare/Medicaid
-individual clients/families
Why are HHAs used? - answer People with chronic illness, disabilities, and the elderly
feel most comfortable being treated at home. Healthcare in familiar settings improves
mental and physical well-being and has proven to be a major factor in the healing
process.
Home Health Agencies - answer Agencies that doctors (sometimes hospital discharge
planners, social workers, or public health offices) refer their patients to so they can
receive at home care by an HHA or CNA. Usually assigned/picked based on clients
needs.
What must be evaluated for a HHA to provide care at a clients home? - answerThe
home environment. (the client is also assessed to determine what care should be
given).
HHA roles: housekeeping - answer-cooking
-cleaning
-laundry
-grocery shopping
-etc...
(prioritize based on client's abilities and your time with them)
HHA roles: family contact - answerHHAs have more contact with the client's family than
they would at a facility. Encourage the family to participate in the client's health, and
work as a team with them.
, HHA roles: independence - answerAs a HHA you are mostly independent, working
without a supervisor most of the time. Make sure you are responsible and can work
without supervision.
HHA roles: communication - answerYou must keep yourself informed on clients care
plan, and you must also inform your superiors about the client and their environment.
HHA roles: transportation - answerHHAs are responsible for their own transportation to
client's houses. Day/night, rain/snow, clients still need care.
HHA roles: safety awareness - answerHHAs must be aware of their personal safety
when raveling and working alone.
HHA roles: flexibility - answerEvery client's home is different the HHA must adapt to
environment changes and working with the client and the client's family.
HHA roles: adapting to the work environment - answerLayout of rooms, tight bathrooms,
rugs, pets, stairs, lack of equipment, clutter, etc... can complicate caregiving and the
HHA must learn to work around these obstacles.
HHA roles: showing respect for clients home - answerHHAs are a guest in the clients
home. HHAs must respect the client's property and customs.
HHA roles: providing comfort - answerOne of the HHAs priorities should be comfort for
the client. Home care should allow the client familiarity and comfort.
HHA roles: respite care - answerThe HHA must also provide care to the family ensuring
they do not "burn out" from the overwhelming pressure of caretaking. HHAs will offer
relief to families of clients by perform their duties and giving the family time to rest.
Why are there so many people taking care of clients? - answerClients will have different
needs/illness/conditions and to combat that there are many different healthcare
professionals that work alongside the HHA.
"Meet the team": HHA - answerHHA provides routine personal and healthcare.
- vital signs
-bathing
-cooking
The HHA spends the most time with the patient out of the whole team. They work as the
"eyes and ears" for the rest of the team reporting any changes/concerns about the client
or the environment so the team provide the best care possible.
"Meet the team": case manager/supervisor - answerUsually an RN. CM are assigned to
each client and create a basic care plan, monitor changes reported by HHA, and
changes care plan when necessary.
