All About Home Health Aides
Example of Home Health Aide Job 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.
Life As a Home Health Aide
- Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
- Care for children who are disabled or who have sick or disabled parents.
- Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
- 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.
- Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
- Massage patients or apply preparations or treatments, such as liniment, alcohol rubs, or heat-lamp stimulation.
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Home Health Aide Required Skills
When polled, Home Health Aides say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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
- Nursing Assistant
- Home Health Provider
- Nurse’s Companion
- Hospice/Home Health Aide
- State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA)
Is There Going to be Demand 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.
How Much Does a Home Health Aide Make?
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 each U.S. state?
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Home Health Aides
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Home Health Aides:
- 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 do I Become a Home Health Aide?
What kind of Home Health Aide requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Home Health Aides Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Home Health Aides work:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Home Health Aide may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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