Home health aides provide secure assistance for loved ones

By Dolly Moiseeff

There comes a point when it’s all too much. 

Taking care of aging parents or loved ones becomes more than you can handle and you need help.

This may be the time to consider hiring a home health aide to give you the respite you need now and then.

Although it may be tempting to hire a person your neighbor knows who is willing to take care of mom to give you a much needed break … hiring a home health aide through an agency will provide you with a trained person who can provide exactly the level of help your loved one needs.

“When you hire someone – maybe a neighbor or a friend of a friend - you’re hiring them based on one person’s opinion,” says Kristin Kolasa, founder of Kindred Spirits Senior Care, a private duty, non-medical home care company.

You're taking a chance that they are right about the person you want to care for mom, but a reputable agency will screen and train their aides.

 “When you hire from an agency, you have a team of people assuring you that this person is qualified to care for your loved one,” Kolasa adds.

At Kindred Spirits Senior Care, job candidates are thoroughly screened.  There are background checks of criminal history and driving records, along with drug and health tests including a tuberculosis screening. All the aides are up to date on vaccinations.

“We want to make sure that the aide is not bringing anything into the home that could harm the person,” Kolasa says.

Her company works hard to match aides with clients whether it’s personalities who get along or with the level of care that is needed. Those who need more care are matched with an aide who can provide it.

“There are different degrees of care for people. We do match Certified Nurse Assistants when we have more demanding clients who need extensive care. These CNAs can take vital signs and are trained in wound care,” Kolasa says.

But the majority of health aides are there to provide help with meals, transportation and offer a reminder to take medications. And the best part is that agency health aides have backup. You won’t miss work or an evening out with friends because your home health aide is on vacation or calls in sick. 

While over the fence care may seem like a bargain it lacks the supervision and protection that an agency can provide.

Kolasa’s company provides insurance coverage for all her employees.  If they are hurt on the job, they are covered and it’s not a liability clients have to be concerned with.

The agency takes care of its clients and employees to provide the best solutions for all.

“There are ongoing checks and balances and more transparency through ongoing visits by senior staff, assuring that the care is seamless,” Kolasa adds.