As we move into the holiday season, many families are trying to find ways to enjoy the holiday cheer while lightening the load of preparing everything. If you have an elderly relative that will be joining you for the festivities, it’s important to think about how you can make the visit more comfortable for you and your loved one. A home health aide is a great way to get some help with managing a comfortable time for your loved one, while getting support in managing the extra to-do’s.

There are many different types of home health aides, and they will vary based on what they’re willing and able to do, how trustworthy they are, and how well they will fit in with your holiday celebration. Depending on your loved one’s needs, you may be needed to choose a caregiver that has a lot of medical experience and qualifications; or, if your relative has a specific handicap, then you might choose someone to help manage feeding, cleaning, and dressing your loved one during a busy holiday celebration. Assisting Hands caregivers has a variety of home health aides to help your family with the different tasks that could arise over the holiday.

Choosing the Right Aide

There are a lot of factors that go into choosing the right caretaker, so it’s important to vet both the agency you’re working with and the individual caretakers that you’re choosing from. Choosing the right agency to work with is a matter of judging their reputation, getting testimonies or references, and finding great reviews online. To judge the individual home health care aides, you’ll need to look at their background, skills, and personality features. Here are some tips on choosing the right home health care aide over the holidays.

Checking References

Since you are bringing the aide into your home at a vulnerable time, it’s important to get some references to make sure that the person is trustworthy. Your agency should be able to provide you with a background check and references for the person you’re hiring. Many agencies do a rigorous background check to vet their employees before sending them to you. Avoid hiring an aide from personal sites or independent hiring methods; it can be much harder to get testimonies and safeguards to make sure the person is trustworthy.

Checking their Personality

While an aide might have all the right credentials to become your home health care aide, this doesn’t guarantee a great match. Many agencies offer a standardized personality test that can help you find the right personality match for your relative. Whether your loved one would prefer someone more gentle or more direct, these things can make all the difference in keeping everyone comfortable. The two will be spending a lot of time together over the holidays, so besides looking at personality test results, it can be great if you get the two to meet each other before the catering begins.

Checking Credentials

It’s also important to choose an aide that has the necessary medical credentials to take care of your loved one. You can look for aides that have a Licensed Practitioner Nurse (LPN) qualification if your loved one has many medical needs. Registered Nurses are also available as home caregivers. You’ll also want to check to make sure that your caregiver has experience in geriatric nursing, so that they know the specific challenges that your loved one might deal with. For instance, a great home health aide for the elderly should be able to recognize signs of illness and mental fatigue that could be related to age-induced illnesses.

Once You’ve Hired Your Aide

Once you’ve chosen your home aide, it’s time to start planning for your holiday celebrations! It’s a good idea to sit down with your aide ahead of time to let them know what types of things they’ll be expected to help out with. Have them talk with your loved one so that the two feel comfortable working in each other’s company. Of course, emergencies and unplanned events do arise, so your health aide should be prepared to deal with any situation in taking care of your loved one. Hopefully, you’ll be able to pull off a smooth holiday with the added help of your home health care aide. You may even consider hiring the person on full time to help with daily or weekly needs.

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About Assisting Hands Palm Beach
Assisting Hands Home Care Palm Beach is a private pay, Non Medicare/Medicaid, In Home Health Agency that provides non-medical, personal care and skilled services, including nursing, occupational and speech therapy. Assisting Hands Palm Beach serves seniors and people with disabilities in Palm Beach County, from Boynton Beach to Jupiter. Learn more at http://assistinghands.com/palmbeach/about-us/