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An excellent home health care agency, like the VNA, provides the services of the following professionals who work together as a team when needed to ensure that the patient receives the proper level of care at all times: patient's physician, home health care nurse, rehabilitation therapists, social worker, home health aide, and personal care aide.
Nurses
There are two types of nurses licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Registered nurses provide such services as developing a plan of care with the patient's physician and in consultation with the patient and her family, administering medications (orally, by injection, or intravenously), and educating the patient and family on self-care methods. Licensed Practical nurses may provide most of the care that a registered nurse does, but may not perform some of the consultative services such a developing a plan of care.
Rehabilitation Therapists
Rehabilitation therapists provide restorative treatments to patients following surgery, illness, or an accident. Physical therapists help restore strength, flexibility, coordination, and general function. Occupational therapists work to help patients regain the skills they need to function in their day-to-day activities, such as learning how to dress and to bathe safely. Speech language pathologists help patients regain their ability to produce and understand speech, as well as facilitate their communication skills.
Social Workers
In the context of their home health care work, social workers are specialists in helping people cope with the medical, functional, emotional, psychological, environmental, and financial challenges of living in their own homes. They are trained in counseling and in how to access community services, either provided by the government or by community organizations.
Home Health Aides
Home health aides receive extensive training in areas such as working with immobile patients, Alzheimer's patients, monitoring a patient's temperature and pulse rate, and preventing infections. Home health aides can also monitor a patient's medication schedule. However, aides are not permitted by law to administer medication. Home health aides often help with household activities such as laundry and preparing meals.
Personal Care Aides
Personal care aides provide assistance with Activities of Daily Living. They may not perform the medically related activities that a home health aide can. For people who need help only with daily activities of living, the services of personal care aides are invaluable.
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