Home Health Aides

What this job is

Monitor the health status of an individual with disabilities or illness, and address their health-related needs, such as changing bandages, dressing wounds, or administering medication. Work is performed under the direction of offsite or intermittent onsite licensed nursing staff. Provide assistance with routine healthcare tasks or activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, toileting, or ambulation. May also help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry depending on the patient's abilities.

What they do day to day

• Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
• Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
• Bathe patients.
• Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
• Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
• Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
• Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
• 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.
• Direct patients in simple prescribed exercises or in the use of braces or artificial limbs.
• Accompany clients to doctors' offices or on other trips outside the home, providing transportation, assistance, and companionship.

Skills and knowledge that matter most

Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).

Education and preparation

Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.

Who this job suits

Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.

Job titles you'll see in postings

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