Home Health Aides
Home health aides monitor the health status of an individual with disabilities or illnesses and address their health-related needs, such as changing bandages, dressing wounds, or administering medication. Their work is performed under the direction of offsite or intermittent onsite licensed nursing staff. They provide assistance with routine healthcare tasks or activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, toileting, or ambulation. They also help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry depending on the patient's abilities.
If looking for a career in the medical field which involves providing personal care aide to patients, but you don’t have the time or money to train to become a nurse, an option is to become a certified home health aide. Many ageing seniors or patients with chronic impairments, prefer to stay in the comfort of their homes in a nursing home, and home health aide services allow them to remain safe and healthy at home are some of the personal care aide job descriptions.
To become a personal care aide, you need a high school diploma or equivalent and get certified through a training program. You may enrol on certification programs at vocational schools. The certification training also teaches you basic medical signs and symptoms, how to take temperature and pulse and how to tell when someone appears flushed, which can indicate a fever or other health issue and can lead to a good health care aide salary.
To have a successful and fulfilling career as a home health aide, you should be a multitasker, compassionate and empathetic to relate to the emotions of the patients.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- Diploma Home Health Aide
- NSQF Level 4 Home Health Aide
Tasks
- 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.
- Provide patients and families with emotional support and instruction in areas such as caring for infants, preparing healthy meals, living independently, or adapting to disability or illness.
- Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
- Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
- Direct patients in simple prescribed exercises or in the use of braces or artificial limbs.
- Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
- Change dressings.
- Perform a variety of duties as requested by client, such as obtaining household supplies or running errands.
- Accompany clients to doctors' offices or on other trips outside the home, providing transportation, assistance, and companionship.
Progression Routes
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