Important Traits to Consider Beyond Certifications

Finding the right Home Health Aide can be an overwhelming process for many individuals and their loved ones. Outside of professional certifications, there are some important traits that an HHA will need to make the patient-care provider relationship successfully function.

If you are currently considering senior home health services for yourself or a family member, these will be three essential to keep at the forefront of your mind.

Stability and Overall Professionalism

First and foremost, patience is a must. Developing a new relationship certainly comes with growing pains, so finding an HHA that will be calm and kind is important for a comfortable start. Secondly, consistency is key. Having a constant figure like an HHA in the home will help a patient better maintain a schedule or routine, remind them to take their medications or perform their therapy exercises, and ensure they can keep up with personal hygiene and self-care. These two characteristics are not something you would know about a person based on their qualifications, so be sure to inquire about their response to confrontation, approach to conflict resolution and ensure they will uphold a near-perfect attendance record.

Physical Endurance

The HHA will need the physical ability to perform daily tasks – including, but not limited to, performing medical procedures, feeding, walking, light cleaning and laundering, running errands, grocery shopping, preparing meals, and more. While the average age of a home health aide typically ranges from 40-60 years old, age should not be a determining factor as long as they are physically able to meet the role’s demands.

The aide must complete these tasks without difficulty, as not to make day-to-day life stressful for the patient or their family.

Knowledge of Care Products and Services

You will want to make sure that the senior home health service you choose has requirements for its employees to have extensive experience in using care products in a private home setting. They must select the correct diaper size, prevent allergic reactions, help with physical therapy stretches and exercises, practice occupational therapy routines, and provide options for the patient when they must decide.

Additionally, they may be required to give injections, swap out wound dressings, change stool and urine bags, monitor skin color for changes, and properly take vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.).

The ability to be proactive within the home is essential, and the readiness to learn and absorb new skills is a great asset.

Summing it Up

While we can all agree that the proper professional requirements are necessary, there are supplementary traits that should be non-negotiables when searching for the right fit for you or your loved one’s home health aide. Remember to consider their stability and overall professionalism, physical endurance, and knowledge of care products and services – and do not feel like you ever have to settle with an HHA that’s not the best match for your family.

Searching for an HHA in New York?

New Millenium Home Care has been offering high-quality private home care services in the NYC area, across the 5 Burroughs, for over a decade. It would be honored for us to discuss your family’s senior home health care needs. Our premier senior home care assistance in New York specializes in a wide range of patient needs, from Alzheimer’s or Dementia to post-operative hip or knee replacement care.

Our HHA services include:

  • Personal care
  • Bathing, dressing, and grooming
  • Meal preparation and diet monitoring
  • Medication reminders
  • Light housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreation activities
  • Planning, shopping, running errands, accompanying appointments, etc.
  • And much more!

A highly individualized plan can be crafted for you. We are happy to walk through every single aspect of every home health care plan. We understand this decision’s gravity and how important this choice is for every individual and their loved ones – we don’t take this responsibility lightly.

For all of your senior health home care needs in Brooklyn, New York City, or throughout the 5 Burroughs in NY, please contact us by phone today at (718) 575-8191 or by email at info@newmilleniumhc.com.