Home Health Aide Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

When people think about what it is like to receive medical treatment, they often envision doctor’s office or a hospital. However, in some cases it is possible to provide the same kind of care that they would get in the hospital, right in the patient’s own home. This type of home care often makes the patient feel more comfortable, and is especially applicable in the cases of elderly people that might be living alone, or have access to limited resources for their medical care. The people that provide this compassionate care to homebound patients are known as home health aides, and they are trained to be able to monitor the progress of patients and alert the necessary medical staff if an emergency arises. In some cases, these aides might be required to work closely with doctors, psychologists, social workers and family members of the patient.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$19,300
Salary Range
$16,100 - $24,400

Work Environment

Because they are specifically hired to perform medical monitoring and assistance in the home of the patients that need it, the home health aides are often required to work in a variety of different environments. Although they are employed by a central hospice or home health care agency, the home health aides are usually alone with their patients for most of the day. They must be able to get along with many different types of people, and able to work with compassion, no matter what the home situation should look like.

High School Preparation

If high school students think that they might enjoy the responsibilities of the home health aide, they should spend time volunteering at hospitals and nursing homes while they are still in school. Additional subjects that will be of use in the future include biology, child care, home economics, physical education, and communications.

Requirements

After completing their high school education, those that are interested in becoming home health aides should look into vocational programs that will provide the training that they need to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Typically, the required programs will be available at medical vocational colleges and community colleges. Some states might also require that the candidates pass a physical examination and receive a bill of good health.

Career Outlook

As we see the elderly population continue to explode, it will be necessary for more and more qualified home health aides to be hired by hospice companies as well as hospitals and clinics that can no longer provide beds to those patients who require long term care and monitoring.

Professional Organizations

National Association for Home Care
228 7th Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: (202) 547-7424
www.nahc.org