Home Care Stories
Home Care as a Career - Supply not Meeting Demand
Concord, N.H. Ð When Betsy Vega started working in home care, she was only 19 years old. Since then she has worked with diabetics to help them cope with their ills, and assisted families with parenting. Her reward is often a smile and feeling good about herself Ð that she has made a difference in the life of another.
Sometimes, home health aides and visiting nurses are the only ray of light in desperate times. It is then that the valuable service they provide becomes apparent. "Something as simple as holding a hand can accomplish mountains of work," said visiting nurse Pat Ladner of Home Health and Hospice.
A growing labor shortage in home health aides and nurses is occurring nationally, as well as in New Hampshire. Low reimbursement rates are compounding the problem along with the strong economy, which is making it hard for home care agencies, like most other agencies, to hire workers. While demand is high, supply is low for home health aides and visiting nurses.
Over 20,000 New Hampshire residents rely on home health aides and visiting nurses annually. Those numbers of people in need increase each day.
Home health aides help sick or disabled people perform everyday activities, such as bathing, dressing and preparing special diets, making home health care a viable option to nursing home placement. Visiting nurses provide wound care, health assessments, assistance with medication management and other skilled care and are often key in plans for care before or after hospitalization. They also act as a resource to information and other community services.
According to both Vega and Ladner, there are many advantages to working in a home care setting. Flexible schedules and autonomy and the ability to encounter a variety of different people and situations are just some of the benefits. One also does not have to be in the office. One of the greatest advantages of working in home care is the ability to become a part of someoneÕs family and develop a relationship.
Home health aides are providing a critically important service to families. The number of people who need services is at an all-time high, and steadily increasing. Therefore, there exists an unprecedented need for responsible and caring people in the communities.
Home health care offers a dynamic and rewarding career option for skilled and caring professionals. It enables the provider to deliver care where the individual wants it Ð in the home. In addition, it is unique in its potential for caregivers to develop meaningful relations and human connections with individuals and their families.
For more information on home health care and hospice
services in New Hampshire, contact the Home Care Association of New Hampshire
toll-free at 1-800-639-1949. Formed in 1974, the Home Care Association of New H
ampshire membership includes both not-for-profit and private agencies located
in New Hampshire and neighboring states that are licensed to provide home
health services in New Hampshire. Member agencies provide services for
thousands of New Hampshire residents of all ages who are recovering from
surgery, injury or illness, have chronic or terminal illnesses, or other
medical conditions needing support at home.
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