In this article, I will show you five steps on how to become a home health aide. In the comfort of their own homes, home health aides provide assistance to clients who have disabilities, cognitive impairments, injuries, or other health difficulties.
You’ll have a big impact on people’s lives as a home health aide by helping clients with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, preparing meals, light housework, and running errands.
If working as a home health aide is something you’re thinking about, you undoubtedly have a number of questions, such as:
- How does a home health aide help people?
- “How to become a home health aide?”
- How much money can you make?
You’re in the proper place if that’s the case. Find out if working as a home health aide is the perfect choice for you by reading on.
What is a Home health aide (HHAs)?
Home health aide keep an eye on those with impairments or chronic illnesses and assist them with daily tasks. Typically, this entails helping senior citizens who require assistance.
Home health aides assist patients with more advanced care, such as dispensing medication and monitoring vital signs, under the direction of other healthcare professionals.
Home Health Aide Responsibilities
Depending on where they work, home health aides have quite different job descriptions. However, they generally carry out the following duties:
- administering prescribed drugs at predetermined intervals
- providing guidance on diet, hygiene, and housekeeping
- arranging for a ride to the doctor’s office
- helping clients with their everyday personal needs, such getting dressed or taking a bath
- Taking care of wounds and, if needed, changing bandages or dressings
- monitoring vital signs
- collaborating with other medical experts
- regular specimen collection
- planning your conduct
- assisting in the patient’s care by instructing family members on how to lift, turn, and reposition the patient
- teaching patients how to use a cane or walker, specific eating tools, unique methods, and equipment for personal hygiene in order to help them take care of themselves
- keeping clients active on their social networks and in their communities
- assisting with artificial limbs and braces
- assisting with cutting-edge medical technology
- Continuing education in the workplace
- keeping track of medical records
- perhaps massaging clients
- Informing the nurse supervisor of any changes or odd circumstances
- light housekeeping in a client’s home, including laundry, dishwashing, and vacuuming Arranging appointments
- offering fundamental healthcare services in accordance with client’s needs
- supplying company and naked emotional or psychological assistance
- Purchasing food and preparing meals in accordance with a client’s dietary requirements
Home Health Aide Salary
The typical annual wage or $13.02 per hour for a home health aide in 2019 is $27,080, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The bottom 10% earned less than $20,130, while the top 10% made more than $36,990.
States that pay the most for home health aides
Depending on where you work, you can earn different amounts of money as a home health aide. The top five states that pay the most to home health aides are as follows:
- $35,360 for Alaska
- $34,020 in North Dakota
- $33,890 in Massachusetts
- $33,810 in Vermont
- $32,860 in Washington
Cities with the Best Pay for Home Health Aides
The top five metropolitan regions for home health caregiver salaries are as follows:
- California’s Napa – $46,670
- $350 in Fairbanks, Alaska
- California – San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward – $34,470
- $34,430 – Barnstable Town, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts’s New Bedford — $34,430
The top five non-metropolitan areas with the highest wages for home health aides are as follows:
- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area:$35,350
- East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area: $35,040
- Central East New York nonmetropolitan area: $34,930
- Alaska nonmetropolitan area: $40,280
- Massachusetts outside of the city: $34,250
Home Health Aide Salary by Years of Experience
Home health aides can get a larger annual wage with more years of experience, according to payscale.com.
- With less than a year of experience, the typical hourly wage is $10.70.
- With 1-4 years of experience, the typical hourly income is $11.07.
- The average hourly income for those with 5 to 9 years of experience is $11.80.
- The typical hourly compensation for those with 10 to 19 years of experience is $11.87.
- The average hourly wage for those with 20+ years of experience is $12.00.
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How to Become a Home Health Aide
How to Become a Home Health Aide Reviewing the training, education, and certification requirements in your specific state is crucial. However, generally speaking, you must follow these instructions:
Obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent is the first step.
A high school diploma or GED is the minimal educational need to apply for home health aide training.
Apply for a training program in step two.
Community institutions, private schools, and some companies all provide home health aide training programs. Private school programs typically require roughly 75 hours, whereas community college programs can be finished in around a year.
While most employers do not provide formal training, some may offer on-the-job training. The quickest programs can be finished in as little as 4–7 weeks.
Programs for home health training must include both classroom and clinical instruction. Make sure your program has state certification; otherwise, you might subsequently have trouble getting certification. These programs often have $400 to $800 in tuition.
Comply with the program specifications
Federal law stipulates a certain amount of training that must be completed in each state: at least 75 hours, including at least 16 hours of clinical or practical supervision. In some states, 120 hours of instruction are necessary.
Pass an evaluation
You must apply for testing and certification through your state after completing the training and program requirements. You must demonstrate your proficiency on both a written exam and a skills assessment in order to pass the test.
Gain experience
It’s time to put your skills to use now that you have the training and knowledge in clinical settings! The future holds plenty of employment opportunities for home health aides. Between 2019 and 2029, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a demand for 1,159,500 more part-time or full-time home health aides.
To land your first position, you might want to think about partnering with a home health agency or other care organization. The majority of the time, background checks, interview screenings, and verification of training and certification are required by home health agencies.
Where Do Home Health Aides Work
There are several places where home health aides can work, including:
- Adult day care centres
- Facilities for assisted living
- Communities for elders with on-going care
- healthcare offered at home
- palliative care
- Services for individuals and families
- Private homes
- facilities for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities
- small group homes
