Home Health Aides (HHAs) provide assistance to the chronically ill, the elderly, and family caregivers who need relief from the stress of caregiving. Many home health aides also work in assisted living facilities, which provide independent living in a homelike group environment, with professional care available as needed.
Duties and Responsibilities includes:
- Follows the plan of care to provide, safe, competent care to the client
- Helps the patient to maintain good personal hygiene and assists in maintaining a healthful, safe environment
- Plans and prepares nutritious meals
- Assists the patient with ambulation as approved
- Encourages the patient to become independent as possible per the care plan
- Attempts to promote patient’s mental alertness through involvement in activities of interest
- Gives simple emotional and psychological support to the patient and other members of the household and establishes a relationship with patient and family which transmit trust and confidentiality
- Reports any change in the patient’s mental and family which transmit condition or in the home situation to the supervisor
- Performs routine housekeeping tasks as related to a safe and comfortable environment for the patient
- Prepares a visit report promptly and incorporates same in the clinical record weekly
- Confirms on a weekly basis, the scheduling of visits so that other necessary visits by the staff members can be coordinated
- Works with personnel of other community agencies involved in the patient’s care
Job Outlook
There will be no shortage of jobs for HHAs in the near future. Government projections are for about a 70% job growth over the next ten years, mainly due to an increasing number of elderly citizens who will need services. Jobs are more readily available for certified HHAs.