Home health aides provide both personal and medical assistance for sick, injured or elderly individuals. Their assistance includes bathing, dressing and feeding; mobility aid such as walkers or wheelchairs may assist; as well as performing regular medical tests like measuring blood pressure and heart rate. Some home health aides can even act as companions, making their patients feel less isolated.
Time required to become a home health aide varies by state; however, most offer certificate programs or training opportunities that can be completed quickly in just weeks. More advanced home health aides also have the opportunity to pursue continuing education to become licensed practical nurses (LPN) or registered nurses in order to advance their careers further.
Home health aides in certain states must obtain a license and pass a background check prior to being hired as caregivers for low-income patients. Medicare or Medicaid, the joint federal-state program that covers them, as well as some private insurers may offer coverage.
Home health aide jobs offer many rewarding experiences, one of them being building trusting relationships with patients. Compassion, kindness and empathy should be key qualities to possess in an aide. Communication must also be clear between themselves and agency supervisors while tracking how much time each client requires – all while arriving on time at their workplaces.
Home health care aides must also possess strong physical capabilities, as they must lift and transport patients without injuring either themselves or their patients. Furthermore, they may be responsible for transporting patients to and from doctor’s appointments or running other errands.
Home health aides work in patients’ homes, meaning their schedule can shift according to client needs. Being flexible requires being able to quickly adapt and efficiently change shifts as situations arise – this includes being prepared for unexpected issues such as an illness or injury that requires immediate medical care.
Employers rely on home health aides to abide by care plans and submit progress reports to the nurse or healthcare professional who supervises them, while clients depend on them being punctual for scheduled shifts – being late can cause frustration for both parties involved, reducing job satisfaction significantly in turn. O*NET can provide more resources and articles on this career field.