What Does it Take to Be a Home Health Aide?
Occupation 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.
What Do Home Health Aides Do On a Daily Basis?
- Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
- Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
- 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.
- Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
- Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
- 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.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Home Health Aide?
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
- Direct Support Professional (DSP)
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Hospice Aide
- Patient Service Representative
- Home Attendant
Home Health Aide Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 911,500 jobs in the United States for Home Health Aide. 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. The BLS estimates 168,600 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Average Home Health Aides 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?
What work experience do I need to become a Home Health Aide?
Who Employs Home Health Aides?
Below are examples of industries where Home Health Aides work:
You May Also Be Interested In…
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References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
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