Home health aides form an essential part of the healthcare system by providing at-home medical care and personal assistance.
It is an emotionally rewarding, hands-on job that many people choose because it is flexible and personally intimate and there are many job openings for home health aides.
There are few requirements beyond an occasional certification and wearing professional attire, like scrubs for women and men, to maintain client comfort when letting someone new into their home.
If you are caring and interested in the healthcare industry, becoming a home health aide may be the perfect occupation for you. Learn about the five reasons to become a home health aide and find out if it is right for you.
1. You’ll Make a Difference Every Day
Home health aides (HHAs) have the privilege of making a daily difference in people’s lives. The job is different depending on clientele but common services HHA’s perform include addressing an individual’s health needs, assisting with daily hygiene, and keeping your client company.
Lots of HHAs work in the patient’s home, so they see a more vulnerable side of their patients when assisting them. HHAs need to have a professional appearance and attitude because of the intimate nature of their work.
HHA’s work with people who can not care for themselves, like the injured, disabled, and aging population. Much of the work is medical care, but some of the most rewarding moments occur when you improve a person’s day with companionship.
Reports show disabled people experience loneliness and social isolation at higher levels than those without disabilities. HHAs are as much a friend in a lonely time as they are healthcare professionals.
2. Lots of Work Flexibility
Home health aides set their own schedules by picking their clients. This makes HHA work attractive to a variety of non-traditional workers who need flexibility in their job.
You could be just returning to the workforce, having your own family to care for, or studying to become a registered nurse, all while working as an HHA.
Some clients need around-the-clock assistance, while others may just need help with specific tasks, so you are sure to find a schedule that works for you.
3. There Are Many Job Opportunities
The aging population makes a large category of people that need home health aides for their everyday activities. More than 39% of the United States population was 45 or older as of 2010.
They will need home health aides to provide at-home care as they continue to age. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 33% growth in HHA positions over the next decade.
4. There Are Various Specializations
Within the home health aide position, there are many specializations you can train for. Some professionals even leave their practice to provide specialized services for at-home clients. A couple of the HHA specializations include:
● Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
At-home therapists travel to the client’s home to help them relearn how to perform daily tasks, like cooking or dressing. Physical therapists put together a plan to build strength after an injury and assist their clients in executing the plan.
Occupational therapists focus on improving clients’ ability to perform everyday functional actions like eating and bathing. Speech therapists help people regain the ability to communicate clearly after an injury that impairs speech like a stroke.
Occupational and physical therapy are hands-on services. These positions require flexible scrubs, like jogger scrubs, to accommodate the physical requirements of the job.
● Pathology and laboratory testing
HHAs can perform blood tests, urine tests, and even X-rays. Advances in portable X-ray technology and quick laboratory shipping make this HHA specialization possible. With extra training, an HHA can even administer intravenous medicine.
● Memory care
Home health aides work with people who have Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Memory care home aides provide similar services but must exhibit adaptability and communication skills.
Clients may fail to meet your expectations for how they should act, so memory care specialists need to know when to move on or press a client on an issue. They also have experience communicating with clients who struggle to speak clearly.
This specialization requires significant amounts of patience. The people you work with as a memory care aid often have some form of cognitive impairment or dementia.
They may not remember you from day to day and can demonstrate signs of aggression on occasion. Knowing how to safely and tactfully care for people with these conditions requires a unique skill set but can be gratifying work.
You can help these individuals live comfortably in their own homes by providing necessary support, allowing them to stay out of a nursing facility.
5. It’s a Great Entry into Healthcare
Home health aides do not need to have a bachelor’s degree to start helping clients. A high school diploma is necessary and, in some states or some agencies, there are certification requirements.
HHA positions in many private companies require only on-the-job training for new hires. Certification is required for HHA positions through Medicare or Medicaid.
To earn your HHA certification in these positions, you must complete 75 hours of formal training. Non-profit organizations, community colleges, and the National Association of Home Care and Hospice offer certification programs for HHAs.
Since there are relatively few requirements to become an HHA, it is ideal for those looking to try out healthcare work. Many even work as an HHA while studying to become a registered nurse or physician’s assistant.
If you are entering the healthcare industry as an HHA, don’t forget to get comfortable scrubs and scrub jackets. Staying comfortable while working is essential to providing the best care for your patients.
Home Health Aides Are Essential
Home health aides provide essential care for disabled, injured, and aging clients who otherwise struggle with everyday life. From companionship to healthcare services, HHAs are a bright light in many people’s lives.
Whether looking for a flexible job or just entering the healthcare industry, becoming an HHA might be the right choice. If you are compassionate and patient and handle intimate work well, you are predisposed to success as a home health aide.