Home Health Aides

Also Called: Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA), Certified Nurses Aide (CNA), Home Care Aide, Home Health Aide (HHA)

What Home Health Aides do

Monitor the health status of an individual with disabilities or illness, and address their health-related needs, such as changing bandages, dressing wounds, or administering medication. Work is performed under the direction of offsite or intermittent onsite licensed nursing staff. Provide assistance with routine healthcare tasks or activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, toileting, or ambulation. May also help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry depending on the patient's abilities.

  • Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
  • Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
  • Bathe patients.
Industry Areas:

Health Care

Training Program Areas:

Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse • Nurse Assistant • Nurse Assistant/Home Health Aide • OCT-Only Health Care • Patient Care Technician

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Work Context

  • Contact With Others
  • Physical Proximity
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Tools

  • Therapeutic ice packs or pillows
  • Wheelchairs
  • Shower or bath chairs or seats for the physically challenged
  • Lower extremity prosthetic devices
  • Glucose monitors or meters

Technology

Operating system software
Linux
UNIX
Video conferencing software
FaceTime
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Exchange
Microsoft Outlook

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Service Orientation
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring

Knowledge

Business
customer service
Arts and Humanities
English language

Education

  • 63% High school diploma or equivalent
  • 21% Post-secondary certificate
  • 9% Associate's degree

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

  • Realistic (Doer)
  • Social (Helper)

Work Styles

  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Concern for Others
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation

Values

  • Relationships
  • Support
  • Independence

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic
  • Attention

This is what Home Health Aides across the country typically make.

$11.49 / hour
$23,910 /year

Entry Level

$16.12 / hour
$33,530 /year

Median Level

$20.41 / hour
$42,450 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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