What Is a Home Health Aide? A Career Guide

As a home health aide, you’ll engage in a variety of tasks that center around providing personal care and health-related services to patients who are unable to perform these tasks for themselves. You may also jump in to help with clients’ household chores, including laundry, light cleaning, and meal preparation. Registered nurses and/or social workers typically oversee and supervise the work of home health aides.

Although this isn’t an easy career, it can be very rewarding. Caregiving is a very demanding position, and as a home health aide, you'll be able to lighten the workload and burden that patients and their families experience. You'll be able to give them peace of mine and make a life-changing difference to people who need your help. 

Learn about the requirements, including education and common duties, along with the earning potential, to help you better decide if this is the right career for you. 

What is a home health aide?

Home health aides are health care workers trained to provide basic care to people who are unable to care for themselves. The role you play may help your clients stay at home and out of facilities longer. Some of the main tasks you’ll complete center around activities of daily living (ADL), which include things like eating, bathing, and dressing. You’ll also check their vital signs and monitor their physical and psychological well-being.

Who do home health aides help?

Home health aides can help people of all ages, including the elderly. You may also help people with disabilities or chronic illnesses by providing specialized personal care services in the comfort of their homes.

Why are home health aides important?

Home health aides help people remain independent for as long as possible. You will provide assistance with daily activities that many people take for granted. Having a home health aide can also reduce stress and worry for family members and friends who are helping with care for patients.

What does a home health aid do?

Helping your clients is at the heart of all of the tasks and duties you’ll perform during your career as a home health aide. Understanding everything that’s involved is an essential part of evaluating if this is the right job to pursue and if your strengths, skills, and interests align with what’s expected. 

Assist with activities of daily living

Part of your job as a home health aide is to provide assistance to patients who are not able to perform basic tasks of daily living on their own. Bathing, dressing, feeding, and grooming assistance fall under your duties as a home health aide. In addition, a home health aide may help with household chores, such as laundry and light cleaning, shopping, and meal preparation. Depending on the needs of your patient, you may also provide transportation to medical appointments or social events.

Check health vital signs

You will monitor the condition of the patient by taking regular blood pressure readings, checking pulse, respiration, and temperature. As a home health care aide, you may also be responsible for scheduling routine doctor appointments for the patient.

Monitor clients' physical and mental well-being

In addition to physical care, you provide companionship and social interaction to elderly, disabled, or chronically ill patients, who often feel isolated in their own homes. You track a patient's level of cognitive function and report it to family members or other caregivers. You also may report changes in behavior immediately to ensure the care team can provide suitable treatment when needed.

Some other responsibilities you may have in this role include:

• Ambulation, exercise, and movement

• Medication management

• Toileting, incontinence care

• Skincare and dressing changes

• Home safety evaluations and recommendations

• Weight monitoring

How to become a home health aide

To become a home health aide, you’ll need to gain the education, skills, and certification needed to qualify for this role. First, you will need to complete a training program to learn basic skills like safety practices and how to take vital signs. Next, you will complete a certification program to satisfy your state’s requirements. Finally, you can qualify for an entry-level job and gain on-the-job experience. 

Educational requirements for home health aides

Most home health aides learn the majority of their skills informally while working. Although training requirements vary by state and employer, many home health aides must complete formal training programs that last up to six weeks. Programs typically include both classroom instruction and supervised practical experience.

This can be a fulfilling career all by itself or a stepping stone for starting your career in the medical field. The educational requirements are minimal, and you can begin work as soon as you complete the required training. However, once you begin, you may want to continue your education and obtain further certifications in order to advance your career.

If you’re thinking about working in this field, start by checking the requirements for becoming one in your state and then determine which training programs satisfy those requirements. Once you enroll in a program, you will learn about medical terminology, basic anatomy and physiology, proper nutrition, and how to take vital signs.  

You will also learn about safety practices for lifting and transferring patients, and how to use assistive devices such as walkers and wheelchairs.  In addition, you will learn how to care for patients with various diseases and disorders that require special procedures or care.

How long does it take to become a home health aide?     

The length of time you need to gain skills or certification to become a health home aide varies. Some state governments require a certain amount of training and testing before they allow you to work as a home health aide. In many cases, this is just a few weeks. In other states, it can take a few months.

The amount of experience you’ll need is usually determined by the state government but the employer can also determine this as well. When starting a position as a home health aide, you will likely have to undergo a criminal background check. Other common requirements include providing proof of citizenship or legal residence in the United States and successfully completing any tests required by the state or employer.

Some employers will provide the necessary training for a home health aide, while other strategies include attendance at technical training schools, community colleges, and even online certification programs. Some home health aide positions require that you have a high school diploma or equivalent.

What skills do home health aides need?

Within the next decade, a huge influx of home health aides is likely to enter the health care industry. Before you start applying for jobs as a home health aide, you should know the skills required for the job. It’s also useful so you can make sure to highlight the relevant skills of home health aides on your resume.

Physical stamina

Home health aides spend much of their day on their feet tending to client needs. You need the stamina to do chores and to help your clients move around.

Patience

Caring for other humans isn’t always easy. You may encounter confused or anxious clients, and you must react calmly in these situations. You may also be interacting with the friends and family members of your clients, who may also have questions or be confused. When you work in this role, you may find yourself in uncomfortable situations that require you to remain calm and patient.  

Compassion

Home health aides must be understanding and empathetic when working with clients and their families. You need to work with compassion and humility.

Time management skills

Home health aides are responsible for keeping track of the time allotted for each client's care and moving on to the next client accordingly. Clients count on you for support. Being late can cause worry. Some clients may not be able to bathe or eat if you do not arrive. 

Communication skills

You need the skills to communicate effectively with clients, family members, and other health care professionals. This includes passing on key information on the well-being of the patient.

Interpersonal skills

You must be friendly, patient, compassionate, and sensitive to the needs of the people you assist. It’s helpful to be able to do so with a positive and supportive attitude, and it’s particularly helpful if you can bring a sense of humor to the mix.

Problem-solving

You need to be able to identify problems and come up with solutions. For example, if a client does not get enough exercise because of lack of mobility, you may suggest an adaptive device for walking or moving around the house.

Adaptability

Your clients needs come first. That requires a degree of flexibility on your part and a willingness to adjust your schedule based on those needs. Your duties may even shift over time or from day-to-day. Remaining adaptable is critical for long-term success. 

Technical skills

The skills required of home health aides are diverse and include having basic computer skills and knowing how to operate medical devices, such as blood pressure monitors. Depending on the company you work for, you may use a computer or mobile device to complete paperwork or send job-related emails. These skills can help improve efficiency.

Basic medical knowledge

You should have some basic knowledge about diseases and illnesses so that you can provide basic first aid or administer medication if required. This may include getting certified in CPR and first aid, knowledge of how to take vital signs and change bandages, ability to administer medication, and familiarity with basic terminology. 

Where do home health aides work?

As a home health aide, you’ll typically work in patients’ homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes and may accompany patients to outpatient clinics. You might work during the day, at night, on weekends, or on holidays if you assist patients who need around-the-clock care.

What is the job outlook for home health aides?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number of jobs will increase by 21 percent from 2023 through 2033, a rate that's substantially faster than the average of 4 percent for all industries [1]. In part, this growth is due to the aging of the population and pressure on health care systems. In addition, new methods of providing home health aide services, such as remote patient monitoring, will lead to job growth.

Career opportunities for home health aides

Becoming a home health aide can be your first step in a rewarding career. With more education and training, you may advance to become a personal care aide or a registered nurse. You may also decide to pursue managerial opportunities within your current organization or work for another firm that offers services to the elderly population. You may be rewarded for your dedication and commitment with opportunities for advancement.

Registered nurse

As a registered nurse, you will perform many of the same tasks as a home health aide but with additional responsibilities. These can include administering medications, treating wounds, and performing diagnostic tests. Registered nurses must have at least an associate's degree in nursing, which typically takes two years to complete. If you choose this path, you may be able to continue working while attending school part-time.

Case and social worker

If you enjoy working with seniors but want to move on from performing hands-on caregiving tasks, consider becoming a case manager or social worker for your agency or another organization that serves the elderly population. In this role, you would help seniors navigate the complicated health care process, and help them stay independent for longer.

How much do home health aides make? 

The amount you can expect to make as a home health aide varies depending on factors like the company you work for and your level of experience, but on average, home health aides make $37,366 per year [2]. Most full-time home health aides work about 40 hours a week, usually during the work week, but according to a patient’s need, you may work evenings, weekends, and holidays. 

Related careers

You may choose various roles as a health care support worker. While some health care support jobs require formal training, others only need a high school diploma.

The following are some of the most popular career options for health care support workers:

• Certified nurse assistant (CNA): As a CNA, you will assist nurses with patient care. You’ll help monitor patient vital signs, serve meals, and keep patient rooms clean. This position requires state certification and a high school diploma or GED.

• Medical assistant: As a medical assistant, you’ll carry out administrative tasks at doctors' offices or other medical facilities. You may schedule appointments, greet patients, handle billing, or keep medical records. You may need formal training for this position.

• Physical therapy assistant: In the role of a physical therapy assistant, you will help physical therapists with their daily duties. This includes helping prepare treatment areas, instructing patients on exercises, and recording patient progress notes. Most states require PTAs to complete an associate degree program from an accredited educational institution.

Home health aide certificate and training

Many people choose to become home health aides (HHAs) because of their love for the elderly and their desire to be of service. When you are looking for home health aide training and certification, it's important that you learn what kind of training your state requires.

Training programs for home health aides vary in length from state to state. Many programs last about 75 hours, although some states may require up to 120 hours of training. You might find programs offered by community colleges, adult education programs, vocational schools, and nursing homes.

If you want to provide more medical services to your patients, you can consider becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA). To become a CNA, you must complete at least 85 hours of training in a CNA-accredited state program. CNAs may assist patients with more complex medical needs than home health aides.

Explore home health aide training on Coursera

Home health is an industry experiencing strong growth with a positive outlook for the future. The demand for qualified and trustworthy home health aid professionals is at an all-time high.

The self-study course Foundations for Assisting in Home Care, offered by the State University of New York, aims to give you the skills to be an effective home aide worker. The course is appropriate for anyone who has an interest in working as a home care assistant or anyone already working with clients in their homes.

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