National Application Center :: career details :: Home Health Aides
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Career Details :: Home Health Aides
Description
Provide routine, personal healthcare, such as bathing, dressing, or grooming, to elderly, convalescent, or disabled persons in the home of patients or in a residential care facility.
Experience
No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a general office clerk even if he/she has never worked in an office before.
Education
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.
Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
Tasks
- Changes bed linens, washes and irons patient's laundry, and cleans patient's quarters.
- Assists patients into and out of bed, automobiles, or wheelchair, to lavatory and up and down stairs.
- Administers prescribed oral medication under written direction of physician or as directed by home-care nurse and aide.
- Massages patient and applies preparations and treatment, such as liniment or alcohol rubs and heat-lamp stimulation.
- Performs variety of miscellaneous duties as requested, such as obtaining household supplies and running errands.
- Entertains patient, reads aloud, and plays cards and other games with patient.
- Maintains records of services performed and of apparent condition of patient.
- Purchases, prepares, and serves food for patient and other members of family, following special prescribed diets.
Related Careers
- Child Care Workers
- Flight Attendants
- Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants
- Personal and Home Care Aides
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Establishing & Maintaining Relationships
- Documenting/Recording Information
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Provide a Service to Others
- Objective or Subjective Information
- Responsible for Others' Health & Safety
- Consequence of Error
