Brief Description
Home health aides care for the elderly, patients recovering from illness, or handicapped persons in their homes. They perform such tasks as changing bed linens, washing laundry, and preparing and serving meals. The health aide also helps to transfer the patient from the bed or wheelchair and accompanies them to doctors’ appointments. Duties may also include carrying out medical instructions regarding prescriptions and therapies as determined by the patient’s physician or nurse. Some aides choose to work only with patients who have a specific type of condition, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s syndrome.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A HOME HEALTH AIDE?
To be a home health aide you should be reliable, patient, and compassionate and should enjoy working with people. Home health aides must be physically fit as the job entails stooping, bending, reaching, lifting and carrying individuals. Aides should also work well independently, because they often work with limited supervision.
WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING IS REQUIRED TO BECOME A HOME HEALTH AIDE?
A high school diploma is not required, but it is desirable for those wishing to enter this field. Most agencies will provide training to home health aides if they have had no previous experience. Training courses are usually two to three weeks long and focus on maintaining a clean, safe environment, basic nutrition, taking and recording vital signs, infection control, recognition of emergencies, communication skills, personal hygiene, and range of motion. No license is required to become a home health aide.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
An aging population and increased reliance on home health care have strengthened the demand for home health aides. Job growth over the next decade is expected to increase by 69%.
LENGTH OF TRAINING
Home Health Aides- on the job training, high school or equivalent GED diploma needed.
Schools
- Acadiana Area Career College: Lafayette
- Northshore Career College: Hammond
Contact Information
PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION SOURCE:
National Association for Home Care
228 Seventh Street, SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 547-7424