What is a Home Health Aide?
Job Description & Duties 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.
A Day in the Life of a Home Health Aide
- Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
- Direct patients in simple prescribed exercises or in the use of braces or artificial limbs.
- Massage patients or apply preparations or treatments, such as liniment, alcohol rubs, or heat-lamp stimulation.
- 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.
- Accompany clients to doctors’ offices or on other trips outside the home, providing transportation, assistance, and companionship.
- Care for children who are disabled or who have sick or disabled parents.
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What a Home Health Aide Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Home Health Aides say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Types of Home Health Aide Jobs
- Certified Medical Aide (CMA)
- Home Health Aid
- Home Health Care Provider
- Caregiver
- Health Care Assistant
Are There Job Opportunities for Home Health Aides?
There were about 911,500 jobs for Home Health Aide in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 47.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 431,200 new jobs for Home Health Aide by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 168,600 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Home Health Aide are Arizona, District of Columbia, and New York. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, South Dakota, or North Carolina. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Home Health Aide Average Salary
Home Health Aides make between $19,060 and $32,180 a year.
Home Health Aides who work in North Dakota, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Home Health Aides make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $20,780 |
| Alaska | $29,890 |
| Arizona | $25,470 |
| Arkansas | $23,070 |
| California | $33,680 |
| Colorado | $26,980 |
| Connecticut | $28,240 |
| Delaware | $29,560 |
| District of Columbia | $29,290 |
| Florida | $24,280 |
| Georgia | $23,140 |
| Hawaii | $27,620 |
| Idaho | $25,150 |
| Illinois | $25,370 |
| Indiana | $23,960 |
| Iowa | $30,320 |
| Kansas | $24,560 |
| Kentucky | $24,460 |
| Louisiana | $21,080 |
| Maine | $27,380 |
| Maryland | $27,540 |
| Massachusetts | $30,830 |
| Michigan | $24,770 |
| Minnesota | $28,940 |
| Mississippi | $22,580 |
| Missouri | $25,080 |
| Montana | $25,940 |
| Nebraska | $24,380 |
| Nevada | $35,450 |
| New Hampshire | $29,140 |
| New Jersey | $24,450 |
| New Mexico | $23,080 |
| New York | $26,240 |
| North Carolina | $21,120 |
| North Dakota | $34,100 |
| Ohio | $22,570 |
| Oklahoma | $23,380 |
| Oregon | $26,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $25,310 |
| Rhode Island | $32,440 |
| South Carolina | $21,810 |
| South Dakota | $29,820 |
| Tennessee | $22,620 |
| Texas | $21,910 |
| Utah | $26,580 |
| Vermont | $28,110 |
| Virginia | $23,440 |
| Washington | $30,100 |
| West Virginia | $23,120 |
| Wisconsin | $25,330 |
| Wyoming | $28,060 |
What Tools & Technology do Home Health Aides Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Home Health Aides may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Linux
- UNIX
- Oracle software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Salesforce software
- SAP software
How to Become a Home Health Aide
What education or degrees do I need to become a Home Health Aide?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Home Health Aides Sector
Home Health Aides work in the following industries:
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Home Health Aide might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
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