A home health aide is a skilled healthcare professional who provides personal care and assistance to individuals in their homes, allowing them to remain independent and in their own homes.
Home health assistance provides various services, including assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting. They are responsible for providing basic personal care services, such as bathing, dressing, and grooming.
They may also offer other services such as grocery shopping, light housekeeping, and meal preparation.
Home health aides may also monitor vital signs, administer medications, and provide companionship and emotional support.
Home health aides are typically employed through home health care agencies responsible for recruiting, screening, and training the aides. In addition to providing direct personal care, home health aides may also be responsible for managing tasks such as grocery shopping, laundry, and light housekeeping.
Home health aides also need to be knowledgeable about safety and accident prevention and be able to recognize and report changes in a patient's condition.
Most home health aides are certified through a national or state-approved program. Certification typically requires completion of a basic training program, which includes instruction in patient care and safety, infection control, and communication. In addition, home health aides must pass a competency-based examination in order to be certified.