Home Health Aide

Duties and responsibilities: Home health aides typically do the following: Help clients in their daily personal tasks, such as bathing or dressing, Provide basic health-related services according to a client’s needs, such as checking vital signs or administering prescribed medication at scheduled times, Do light housekeeping, such as laundry, washing dishes, and vacuuming in a client’s home, Organize a client’s schedule and plan appointments, Arrange transportation to doctors’ offices or for other kinds of outings, Shop for groceries and prepare meals to a client’s dietary specifications, and Provide companionship. Home health aides, unlike personal care aides, typically work for certified home health or hospice agencies that receive government funding and therefore must comply with regulations. They work under the direct supervision of medical professionals, usually registered nurses. These aides keep records of services performed and of clients’ conditions and progress. They report changes in clients’ conditions to supervisors or case managers. Home health aides also work with therapists and other medical staff. Depending on their clients’ needs, home health aides may provide some basic health-related services, such as checking a client’s pulse, temperature, and respiration rate. They may also help with simple prescribed exercises and with giving medications. Occasionally, they change bandages or dressings, give massages, care for skin, or help with braces and artificial limbs. With special training, experienced home health aides also may help with medical equipment such as ventilators, which help clients breathe.

Salary: $16,600-$34,750

Education: Home health aides who work for agencies that receive reimbursement from Medicare or Medicaid must get a minimum level of training and pass a competency evaluation or receive state certification. Training includes learning about personal hygiene, reading and recording vital signs, infection control, and basic nutrition. Aides may take a competency exam to become certified without taking any training. These are the minimum requirements by law; additional requirements for certification vary by state. In some states, the only requirement for employment is on-the-job training, which employers generally provide. Other states require formal training, which is available from community colleges, vocational schools, elder care programs, and home health care agencies. In addition, states may conduct background checks on prospective aides. Home health aides can be certified by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). Although certification is not always required, employers prefer to hire certified aides. Certification requires 75 hours of training, observation and documentation of 17 skills demonstrating competency, and passing a written exam.

Reflection: I wouldn't like to become this because it is not the right job for me. I prefer working in the kitchen as I want to be a culinary artist so this wouldn't fit my preference.