Home Health Care
Assess the Staff and Services
California has very specific training and education requirements for the personnel involved in home health care.
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Home health aides help with daily activities such as bathing, getting dressed, getting to and from the toilet, and preparing meals.
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Occupational therapists help individuals become more independent by working with them to perform daily activities such as bathing and getting dressed on their own.
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Physical therapists treat illness or injuries through exercise, massage, or other treatments to improve physical abilities, lessen pain, and prevent injury.
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Physicians diagnosis patients illnesses, assess injuries, and prescribe the appropriate care and treatment.
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Licensed practical or vocational nurses are usually responsible for doing an initial evaluation of the patient and determining his or her medical needs.
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Registered nurses treat patients and monitor and administer their care — and sometimes supervise other caregivers.
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Social workers help patients and family members deal with the emotional and psychological toll of an illness.
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Speech language therapists help strengthen speech and communication skills.
Each agency establishes hiring standards that may include: verifying that the applicant has no record of criminal offenses and has the proper credentials, including hours of training, required licenses or certifications, and prior experience.
As a practical check on personnel, ask the agency for references — from doctors, discharge planners, or patients and their families. Then ask those references about their experiences with the quality of care they received and whether they are satisfied with the care provided by an individual agency.
