Life As a Home Health Aide
Home Health Aide Definition 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.
List of Home Health Aide Job Duties
- Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
- Care for children who are disabled or who have sick or disabled parents.
- Massage patients or apply preparations or treatments, such as liniment, alcohol rubs, or heat-lamp stimulation.
- Direct patients in simple prescribed exercises or in the use of braces or artificial limbs.
- 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.
- 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.
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What a Home Health Aide Should Know
These are the skills Home Health Aides say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Resident Care Associate
- Resident Care Aide
- Care Worker
- Certified Nurses Aide (CNA)
- Home Health Attendant
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. There will be an estimated 168,600 positions for Home Health Aide per 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
The average yearly salary of a Home Health Aide ranges between $19,060 and $32,180.
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 kind of Home Health Aide requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Home Health Aides Sector
Home Health Aides work in the following industries:
Similar 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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