“Making a difference in someone’s life, better than anyone else.”
Certified Home Health Aide
This is the most comprehensive, essential and private care centered on the personal and necessary human needs of the activities of daily life. Signature Care is extended care for people with a chronic or acute health condition, such as heart problems, frailty, severe arthritis, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, post surgery recovery, or other circumstances that confines the recipient’s ability to care for themselves. Signature Care is meant to: - Improve comfort and well being
- Increase self-esteem and dignity through personalized care
- Maintain personal hygiene and appearance
- Reduce anxiety about an uncertain future or need for care
- Increase satisfaction with quality of life
Signature Care is an all-inclusive service that provides a variety of care tasks that go beyond the basics to make sure that the recipient can stay at home, even if they live alone. A professionally supervised, Board of Nursing, Certified Home Health Aide provides this care under a written Plan of Care, which includes:
- Bathing (bed bath, shower or assist with a tub bath when safe)
- Personal grooming (shaving, washing hair, combing hair, and mouth, skin and nail care)
- Ambulation (assist with transfers and walking)
- Laundry and Change bed linen
- Activities of Daily Living (exercise, feeding, toileting, dressing, shopping, errands, etc.)
- Meal Preparation (including special or restricted diets)
- Light Housekeeping (tidy-up and clean the recipients room, bathroom and kitchen)
Signature Care is personal care tailored to the individual needs of the recipient and their family. A Registered Nurse visits the residence to assess the needs in the home and develop the Plan of Care. The Nurse continues to monitor the progress of the care and supervise the Certified Home Health Aide. This is to ensure that care remains appropriate to the needs as changes occur and to help solve any problems that may arise.
Why is a Certified Home Health Aide important?
- The likelihood of people age 85 and older using home care increased and may be a result of the fact that 45% of this age group has chronic conditions combined with disabilities and functional limitations. It is well documented that the likelihood for using home care services increases with age and functional disability.
- The new elderly are facing problems of obesity, which has doubled over the past fifteen years and is a major risk factor for several chronic conditions.
- Approximately 80% of those 65 years and older have one or more chronic illnesses.
- More than 65% of Americans age 65 years or older have some form of cardiovascular disease, and half of all men and two-thirds of women older than age 70 have arthritis. These conditions, as well as living status, result in people becoming dependent on others for help in performing the activities of daily life.
- Between both sexes, the likelihood of living alone increased with age. For women, it rose from 32% for 65 to 74 year olds to 57% for those age 85 years or more; for men, the corresponding proportions were 13% and 29%.
When is Signature Care needed?
- When activities of daily life are difficult to perform.
- When a frail elderly person finds it difficult, if not impossible, to stay at home.
- When someone has fallen or having difficulty getting around.
- When an elderly person with an active lifestyle becomes inactive.
- When someone is returning home from the hospital or nursing home.
- When chronic illness entails carrying out therapeutic regimes and activities of daily living.
- When an Alzheimer patient and their family need assistance to cope with the overwhelming demands of the disease.
