This is a common question I see on health care forums everywhere. It is an excellent question! The answer to the question is simple. Hands on care means that Home Health Aides provide physical care.
This type of physical care will range to a variety of care plans and treatment types:
- Bathing
- Eating
- Moving
- Grocery shopping
- Picking-up medications
- Cooking
- Cleaning
- Laundry,
- Monitoring vital signs
- Basic medical tasks
- Following a care treatment plan
Companion Care
Companion care is less hands-on care. For instance, companion caregivers will usually provide services like talking, playing board games, going out shopping, but it never includes nothing physical.
Home Health Aides are required to be capable of doing both. However, there are families that may request one or the other.
Companion care may include:
- Accompany patients to social events
- Promote health to their clients by adhering to diet and exercise plans
- Providing emotional support for clients as they heal or cope with their conditions
- Making conversations
- Keeping the patient comfortable
Furthermore, companion care centers on the patient’s psychological and emotional well-being.
Hands on Care and Companion Care are Equally Important
What is more important? Emotional and physical needs are equally valuable. The hands on care and companion care equally important. Nevertheless, families may request to have either services. Coincidentally, home health aides are equipped to handle both.