Home Health Aides :: Job Description

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Home Health Aides

Careers / Home Health Aides

Summary Description


	Provide routine individualized healthcare such as changing bandages and dressing wounds, and applying topical medications to the elderly, convalescents, or persons with disabilities at the patient's home or in a care facility. Monitor or report changes in health status. May also provide personal care such as bathing, dressing, and grooming of patient.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Care Giver

2.	Caregiver

3.	Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA)

4.	Certified Medical Aide (CMA)

5.	Certified Nurses Aide (CNA)

6.	Companion

7.	Direct Care Counselor

8.	Direct Care Professional

9.	Habilitation Training Specialist

10.	Health Care Assistant

11.	Health Service Worker

12.	Health Support Specialist (HSS)

13.	Healthcare Associate

14.	Home Attendant

15.	Home Care Aide

16.	Home Care Attendant

17.	Home Care Giver

18.	Home Care Provider

19.	Home Health Aid

20.	Home Health Aide (HHA)

21.	Home Health Attendant

22.	Home Health Care Provider

23.	Home Health Provider

24.	Home Help Aide

25.	Hospice Aide

26.	Hospice/Home Health Aide

27.	In Home Caregiver

28.	Independent Living Specialist

29.	Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)

30.	Nurse's Companion

31.	Nursing Assistant

32.	Patient Service Representative

33.	Resident Care Aide

34.	Resident Care Associate

35.	Residential Aide

36.	Residential Counselor

37.	State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA)

Job Tasks

	Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager. Maintain medical records.

	Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming. Assist patients with daily activities.

	Bathe patients. Assist patients with daily activities.

	Administer prescribed oral medications, under the written direction of physician or as directed by home care nurse or aide, and ensure patients take their medicine. Give medications or immunizations.

	Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care. Assist patients with daily activities.

	Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert. Engage patients in exercises or activities.

	Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets. Feed patients.

	Care for children who are disabled or who have sick or disabled parents. Assist patients with daily activities.

	Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration. Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.

	Provide patients and families with emotional support and instruction in areas such as caring for infants, preparing healthy meals, living independently, or adapting to disability or illness. Teach basic living or other adaptive skills to patients or caregivers.

	Accompany clients to doctors' offices or on other trips outside the home, providing transportation, assistance, and companionship. Accompany patients or clients on outings to provide assistance.

	Perform a variety of duties as requested by client, such as obtaining household supplies or running errands. Accompany patients or clients on outings to provide assistance.

	Change dressings. Apply bandages, dressings, or splints.

	Direct patients in simple prescribed exercises or in the use of braces or artificial limbs. Engage patients in exercises or activities.

	Massage patients or apply preparations or treatments, such as liniment, alcohol rubs, or heat-lamp stimulation. Administer therapy treatments to patients using hands or physical treatment aids.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Home Health Aides
	Home health aides help people with disabilities, chronic illness, or cognitive impairment with activities of daily living. They often help older adults who need assistance. In some states, home health aides may be able to give a client medication or check the client's vital signs under the direction of a nurse or other healthcare practitioner.

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Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Home Health Aides
	Home health aides held about 913,500 jobs in 2014. They work in a variety of settings, including clients' homes, group homes, and day services programs.

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Of all professions in the U.S., journalists are credited with having the largest vocabulary with approximately 20,000 words (about twice the US adult average).

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