Lori Pagenkopf, a home health aide with North Memorial Home Care and Hospice in Robbinsdale, talks about her job.
Q: What's a typical workday like for you?
A: I work in clients' homes, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, memory care facilities and senior citizen high-rises in the greater Minneapolis area, caring for clients who recently left the hospital and are in rehabilitation from surgery, acute illnesses or chronic illnesses. I also do private duty work and hospice cases. The visits last one to three hours but may last up to eight hours. My duties include personal care, treatments, medicine reminders, assistance with occupational therapy and physical therapy, socialization and companionship. I provide emotional support for the client and family and help to keep the living environment safe. The most important parts of my job are observation of the client and reporting of all physical and emotional changes to the case manager or the medical staff.
Q: How does your role fit into the bigger healthcare picture?
A: Home health aides are often the only ones who see clients daily and act as the eyes and ears for other healthcare professionals so clients stay healthier and happier. I also guide people in the community who are searching for answers for care of their loved ones.
Q: Who do you interact with during the course of the day?
A: I interact with clients, family, case manager, nurses, doctors, receptionists at appointments, other home health aides, nursing home aides, supervisors in all those settings, the general public, occupational and physical therapists, and social workers.
Q: Why did you become a home health aide?
