Medical Assisting Career
— and Related Allied Health Care Professional Disciplines

Home Health Aide's Career Choices

< Home Health Aide

Many medical assistants come from a Home Health Aide background. The home health aide assists clients that need help with certain daily activities that promote, or maintain health at home. These clients often remain at home, or sometimes reside in a nursing home, or retirement communities where they perform their daily routines in their own place. The home health aide's duties are similar to those of the nursing assistant, or nurse aide, except they help clients to remain as independent as possible despite of illnes, or age.

- Must be able to successfully pass Home Health Aide test
- Lift 50 pounds maximum
- Travel in their car on a daily basis; 100%

 

Home Health Aide's Job Description:

The Home Health Aide's main function is to promote client comfort and support. The main focus lies on personal care to the client and:

- Assisting the client with transfers and/or ambulation
- Assisting  with toileting and personal hygiene
- Turning and positioning clients who are bedbound
- Assisting with Range of Motion (ROM) exercises as ordered
- Assisting clients with preparation of meals
- Assisting clients with toileting: bedroom, bedpan, urinal.
- Assisting clients with medications which are self-administered
- Changing simple non-sterile dressings or external bags

QUALIFICATIONS:

- Ability to accurately take vital signs
- Ability to accurately observe, report and document changes in the client
- Ability to recognize the needs of the client and family
- Ability to develop and maintain rapport with clients and families
- Ability to work with an interdisciplinary team

 

Home Health Aide Summary

Education: High School, moderate-term job training, CPR certification
Projected Growth: 69 %
Earnings: $21,000-$25,000 depending on experience

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More Information: U.S. Department of Labor