A certified home health aide provides personal care for the elderly, disabled, or patients recovering from illness or injury in people’s homes. When family and friends are unable to provide adequate care for a person, home health aides are frequently requested. A certified home health aide can assist people in remaining in their own homes rather than being placed in a residential care facility like a nursing home.
Home health aides assist their clients with daily tasks such as meal preparation, dressing, bathing, and grooming. Laundry and changing bed linens are just a few of the responsibilities of the job. Home health aides assist patients with medication, mobility, and exercise regimens under the supervision of medical and nursing staff. They may provide basic medical assistance such as pulse and temperature monitoring, bandage changes, and assistance with ventilators, prosthetics, and other medical devices.
Many certified home health aides work for home health agencies and are trained on the job nurses and other home care professionals. A high school diploma is not required in most cases. In order for their employers to be eligible for Medicare reimbursement in the United States, home health aides must undergo a competency evaluation.
The National Association for Home Care and Hospice offers voluntary certification in the United States. A certified home health aide must complete a 75-hour training program, demonstrate competency, and pass a written exam. In some states, all home health aides are required to be licensed.
The work of a certified home health aide is physically demanding, requiring long periods of standing and walking, as well as heavy lifting. Emptying bedpans and dealing with irritable behavior are two aspects of the job that may be considered unpleasant. Aides who work for agencies may be responsible for a number of patients in a single day. A certified home health aide must be familiar with proper lifting procedures as well as infection control principles in order to stay healthy and avoid injury. For most jobs, a physical examination and a criminal background check are required.
Certified home health aides can also work for themselves, setting their own schedules and fees, and caring for the same patient for months or years. Because many patients require round-the-clock care, aides can find work at night and on weekends. While home health aides have few opportunities for advancement, some seek additional training and education to become licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, or registered nurses.