Life As a Home Health Aide

Position 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.

List of Home Health Aide Job Duties

• Massage patients or apply preparations or treatments, such as liniment, alcohol rubs, or heat-lamp stimulation.
• Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
• Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
• Care for children who are disabled or who have sick or disabled parents.
• Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
• Accompany clients to doctors’ offices or on other trips outside the home, providing transportation, assistance, and companionship.

Qualities of a Home Health Aide

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.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Types of Home Health Aides

• Home Care Provider
• Direct Care Worker
• Resident Care Provider
• Patient Service Representative
• Resident Care Aide

Home Health Aide Job Outlook

There were about 911,500 jobs for Home Health Aides in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 47.3% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 431,200 new jobs for Home Health Aides 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 Aides are New York, Texas, and Ohio.

Watch out if you plan on working in South Dakota, Vermont, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Home Health Aide Salary

The average yearly salary of a Home Health Aide ranges between $19,060 and $32,180. The median salary is $24,200.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Nevada	$35,450
North Dakota	$34,100
California	$33,680
Rhode Island	$32,440
Massachusetts	$30,830
Iowa	$30,320
Washington	$30,100
Alaska	$29,890
South Dakota	$29,820
Delaware	$29,560
District of Columbia	$29,290
New Hampshire	$29,140
Minnesota	$28,940
Connecticut	$28,240
Vermont	$28,110
Wyoming	$28,060
Hawaii	$27,620
Maryland	$27,540
Maine	$27,380
Colorado	$26,980
Utah	$26,580
Oregon	$26,450
New York	$26,240
Montana	$25,940
Arizona	$25,470
Illinois	$25,370
Wisconsin	$25,330
Pennsylvania	$25,310
Idaho	$25,150
Missouri	$25,080
Michigan	$24,770
Kansas	$24,560
Kentucky	$24,460
New Jersey	$24,450
Nebraska	$24,380
Florida	$24,280
Indiana	$23,960
Virginia	$23,440
Oklahoma	$23,380
Georgia	$23,140
West Virginia	$23,120
New Mexico	$23,080
Arkansas	$23,070
Tennessee	$22,620
Mississippi	$22,580
Ohio	$22,570
Texas	$21,910
South Carolina	$21,810
North Carolina	$21,120
Louisiana	$21,080
Alabama	$20,780

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:

• Linux
• Microsoft Access
• Python
• Microsoft Word
• Salesforce software
• Microsoft Outlook
• UNIX
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint

How do I 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?

Where Home Health Aides Work

Related Careers

Those thinking about becoming Home Health Aides might also be interested in the following careers:

• Funeral Attendants

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons