When a home health caregiver walks through a patient’s front door, they’re entering more than a home; they’re entering someone’s life. They see the challenges patients face in their everyday environment, celebrate their progress, listen to their concerns and, often, become an important source of encouragement along the way. That personal connection is at the heart of our Why I Care series, where we introduce you to the people behind the care and invite them to share what their work means to them. We hope her answers to these questions and her insightful perspective bring comfort, understanding, and reassurance.
We sat down with Trish Hann, PT, Anew Case Manager / Physical Therapist, who has spent nearly 25 years helping patients work toward greater mobility, independence and quality of life. Her journey into home health wasn’t exactly planned, but it didn’t take long for her to realize she’d found the right place.
Trish, tell us how you came to work in home health.
Kicking and screaming! I had no interest in doing home health. I moved to Colorado in the mid-’90s, and the only job I could find was at an outpatient orthopedic clinic that also required me to do home health about 50% of the time. Within a few weeks, I absolutely fell in love with it. Who knew?
How long have you been working in home health, and what keeps you coming back?
I’ve been doing home health full time for 25 years now and I am so thankful that I’ve had countless opportunities to help people through some of the most challenging times of their lives. And the adventure continues every time a new patient opens the door and allows me into their home and their life. It’s what I was called to do professionally.
What is something about being a home health caregiver that people might not realize?
You need to be able to make important decisions in the moment with minimal support. You may not know exactly what you’re walking into, so you have to be able to analyze the patient well and make the right recommendations. In the home, you’re basically on your own. You don’t have a colleague you can pull over and ask for their opinion.
What do you do to help a new patient feel comfortable when you first walk through their door?
I introduce myself, explain why their doctor referred them for PT, and mention a couple of things I learned from reviewing their chart so they know I’m familiar with their case. Then I ask questions about how they’re feeling and what they’re experiencing. I want them to know that I care about what they’re going through.
How do you build trust with a patient who may be nervous, frustrated or reluctant to accept help?
It takes a lot of listening to understand why they’re feeling that way. Once you understand what’s behind it, you can address it. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience with the healthcare system. Maybe they don’t understand their diagnosis. Or maybe they don’t feel like anyone is truly listening to what they’re feeling. They need to know I’m on their team and that I have their best interests at heart.
What are some little things you do that can make a patient’s day better?
Listen. Do the extra stuff. I always want to maximize a patient’s independence, but if there’s a small task that will take me 30 seconds and they would struggle with it for 10 minutes and be exhausted afterward, I’ll do it. They’re usually very grateful for those little things.
How do you learn what matters most to each patient and not just what they need medically?
I ask them what their goals are. If I can find something they’re really motivated to do, that usually increases their buy-in to therapy. I once had a patient whose goal was to walk down the aisle to marry his fiancée. You’d better believe he worked his tail off with therapy when I explained how the little steps we took during each visit would help make that goal achievable.
What is something you learned from a patient that has stayed with you?
To be present. Early in my career, I was very distracted during a visit, and a patient called me out on it. I focus to give every patient my full, undivided attention, because they deserve it.
Can you share a moment with a patient that reminded you why your work matters?
I recently treated a woman who was wheelchair-bound and initially couldn’t stand or transfer without assistance. We worked very hard for months. Eventually, she was able to transfer independently and then take a few short steps. We kept working to improve her mobility.
Then one day, I went to see her and she answered the door for me. She was standing there, smiling, with her walker. It was huge! She had been waiting all day for me to arrive so she could walk to the door and open it for me.
How do you celebrate the small victories with your patients?
I congratulate them on the small achievements and remind them how those little victories along the way will help them reach their bigger goals. I remind them that one of the biggest predictors of future progress is recent past improvement, and I try to motivate them to keep making strides every day.
Home health allows you to see people in their own environment. How does that change the way you care for them?
This is a game changer for home health. There are barriers and obstacles you may never anticipate if you’re treating someone in a clinic or hospital. But when you get into their environment and practice functional tasks the way they actually need to complete them, it is so helpful. You can recommend the right type of equipment, move furniture, identify trip hazards and other safety concerns, and make very specific recommendations to maximize their safety and independence.
What does dignity look like when you’re caring for someone?
It’s respect for the individual, their home, their family and their decisions. It’s being thankful that they trust me enough to invite me into their home. It’s listening to them and valuing their desires when it comes to their healthcare and rehabilitation goals.
What do you think patients need most from their caregivers, besides the actual care you provide?
They need to know that you genuinely care about them. You have to listen first. Patients need to feel heard and respected, and that usually opens the door for them to be willing to listen to what I have to offer them and accept the care.
Therapy can be emotionally challenging. How do you handle the difficult days?
I try to practice good self-care. I make time to go for a walk, sit on my porch and relax, or just snuggle on the couch with my dogs. I have to have that unwinding time in order to recharge my batteries so I can do it all over again tomorrow.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Patient progress and improvement. When someone achieves a goal and is able to do something they couldn’t do yesterday, that’s incredibly rewarding.
What makes you proud to be a home health caregiver?
I feel it’s a very high-integrity occupation. I am trusted by my patients to enter their homes and their lives, and I always want to rise to the high expectations that come with that trust.
What’s a small moment that might seem insignificant to someone else but means a lot to you?
I love it when a patient takes the time to write me a little card or thank-you note about what I provided for them. I’ve kept every one of them.
Has being a caregiver changed you personally? If so, how?
It causes me to give more grace to other people. When I perceive someone in public as acting rude or negatively, I try to remember that you never know what another person is carrying. Life is hard and everyone struggles, so I try hard to be patient and kind.
What’s something your patients would probably say about you?
I think they would say that I’m REALLY, REALLY invested in their progress.
What’s one thing you’ve learned from a patient that you now use in your own life?
Don’t wait to plan adventures, experiences and vacations. Enjoy life as you go.
What’s something that always makes you smile during your workday?
Every little kindness my patients extend to me. Most of them are very happy to have me come and see them, and that always makes me smile.
If you could give someone considering a career in caregiving one piece of advice, what would it be?
Practice patience and flexibility, and always be prepared for the unexpected.
If your career in caregiving could be summed up in one word, what would that word be, and why?
Service. We are ultimately there to serve the patients’ needs. What do they need from me in that moment? And how can my service to them in that moment bring about positive changes to enhance their day, their week, and their life?
What is your “WHY” for what you do?
I get the opportunity to change lives. Not every visit. Not every patient. But those times when someone makes huge strides and can return to doing the things they want to do, and the joy that brings them, that’s priceless for me.
People like Trish are waiting to serve you.
If you or a loved one have questions about home health, reach out any time. If you or a loved one are preparing for surgery, returning home after a hospital stay, or managing a chronic illness, we work closely with your medical team to help you recover safely, remain independent, and receive expert care in the comfort of your own. Call us 866-282-6090. We serve these Indiana counties.
Interested in a life-changing career? Visit here to explore and start Anew life.