Now that you’ve decided on doing hospice care and chosen a home health aide you can trust, you may be feeling worried about your first day together. Even though you’re hiring this person to help you manage your condition, you’re ultimately inviting a new person into your personal space. It’s easy to feel anxious, especially when you’ve spent a lot of time researching home health service providers you can trust.
Luckily, there are a few ways to make this transition as seamless as possible, ensuring the two of you slip right into a routine that will help you recover from your condition and manage your symptoms. Here are four tips to help you get started:
Get Acquainted
Once the home health aide arrives, consider sitting down on the couch and getting to know each other. Doing this will diffuse any nervous tension and break the ice, allowing you to warm up to each other and learn more about who they are. Even though you’ve already screened the aide and learned about their background before hiring them, it’s still essential to get acquainted in person.
Show them around the house, discuss their role, and answer any questions they may have. It’s also a good idea to have your other family members or loved ones present to meet the home health aide to establish a relationship and maintain a communication line.
Lay Down Your Rules
Everyone runs their home differently to feel safe and comfortable in it. Be sure to explain your routines, traditions, and house rules to your home health aide so they know how to settle in and what to do. That way, they can feel comfortable faster and provide the hospice care you need. Laying everything out from the get-go and explaining what is and isn’t acceptable in your home will make things simpler for everyone involved, allowing your aide to feel more relaxed.
Enjoy Your Time Together
Although you hired your home health aide to help look after your health and manage your condition, that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with them, too. They don’t have to be as entertaining as your favorite TV show, but they provide a companionship that’s crucial to the healing process. A good home health aide knows the best way to uplift the spirits of their patients apart from giving them the assistance they need. Look for ways to have fun together, like watching a fun movie or exploring a hobby together, like crocheting or doing jigsaw puzzles.
Talk About Special Considerations
Lastly, if you have special needs, you’ll need to discuss them with your home health aide to make special considerations. The aide must have specialized training to deal with the unique set of needs your condition gives you, making it an essential point of discussion to have when you first meet them. For example, if you struggle with your memory, the home health aide can establish a solid routine with you.
Conclusion
A certified home health aide offers exceptional support, whether you suffer from a tricky condition, are recovering from surgery, or have a loved one that requires temporary or long-term care. By following these tips, you’ll enjoy an excellent first day with your home health aid, cementing a crucial relationship that will help you manage your condition more effectively.
Bridge Home Health & Hospice offers the best home-assisted living in California. Our trained home health aides provide many skilled services, like total knee and hip rehabilitation, fall risk prevention, post-surgical care, diabetic care and management, and many more. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you improve your health!
