Caregiving Challenges, Deciding What Type of Home Care to Hire

Once you have determined that your loved one needs help, the next step is deciding if a companion, a homemaker, or a home health aide is best.

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Home Health Aide

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You have decided to hire help for your loved one so they can remain safe and independent at home, whether that is their home or your home. The next decision to make – is a companion, homemaker, or home health aide needed?

Roles and limitations, in brief

Companion - A companion fulfills a purely social responsibility. They visit to do the things your loved one enjoys doing and keep them company. Talk, read, play games, play music, go for walks, do crafts, or garden together. Companions can also take your loved one out - for meals, movies, community events, to visit parks and monuments, and other activities. (Note that for companion care, your loved one must be able to transfer, as well as get in and out of a vehicle, unassisted. When traveling, the companion can fold and store walking aids such as walkers and rollators.) Companions do not serve as homemakers or home health aides, and they do not put their hands on your loved one.

Homemaker - A homemaker fulfills household responsibilities. They visit to assist with the chores and errands that your loved one can no longer do by themselves. They will do light housekeeping, laundry, change linens, do dishes, shop, pick up prescriptions, and prepare meals. Provided that your loved one can transfer, as well as get in and out of a vehicle, unassisted, a homemaker can transport your loved one while running errands. For example, if your loved one wants to personally select items from the grocery store. Homemakers can also serve in the role of companion, and like companions, homemakers do not put their hands on your loved one. Homemakers do not serve as home health aides.

Home health aide - A home health aide can provide all the services of a companion and homemaker, in addition to hands-on (personal) care. This is the only role that will put hands on your loved one to help them with things like transfers, bathing/showering, toileting, personal hygiene, dressing, and eating. They are also able to assist your loved one in and out of a vehicle. Home health aides receive training in hands-on care that companions and homemakers do not. However, it is important to remember that home health aides do not provide skilled care (in some states they can provide very limited skilled care by nurse delegation). They do not take the place of a licensed nurse or other licensed professional.

*Note that most home care agencies will not provide just transportation services alone. Transportation is combined with another care delivery service.

See also: Caregiving Challenges: Differences in Sources of In-Home Care, Caregiving Challenges: Companion & Homemaker vs. Home Health Aide, and Caregiving Challenges: What are ADLs and IADLs? content

Key points for consideration

Companion advantages

Homemaker advantages

Home health aide advantages

Differences between private and agency employees

Private

Agency

No content in this app, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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