Home Health Aide

Home Health Aide

A Home Health Aide is a trained paraprofessional prepared to assist professional personnel in personal care and home management as related to comfort, care, and safety of a client in the home. The Home Health Aide accepts responsibility for his/her own actions and:

1. Provides necessary information on health status and experience.

2. Accepts only assignments for which qualified.

3. Attends agency orientation and attends minimum of 12 hours of in-service education annually.

4. Practices safety and competency within the job description.

5. Communicates with the agency about problems and concerns.

6. Complies with State/Federal regulatory acts and agency policies.

7. Communicates with office staff regarding all scheduling of home health aide services to clients.

8. Completes required documentation accurately on a timely basis.

9. Respects and maintains client confidentiality.

10. Reports concerns of client abuse or neglect.

11. Refrains from discussing personal problems, concerns, or opinions with client.

12. Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with client.

Requirements:

1. Supervises Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

2. Encourages client in self-help and optional level of independence or participation in activities.

3. Assists and encourages client to follow prescribed exercise program which may include range of motion (ROM) exercises and ambulation.

4. Provides and assists with skin care by turning and positioning client as prescribed, and providing care to pressure point areas (e.g. back rubs).

5. Assists and guides client in transfer process from bed to chair, commode or other devices.

6. Assists in elimination process by giving bedpan, urinal, or bringing client to the bathroom; and measures and records intake and output.

7. Assists in giving client bath, whether complete, partial, tub, or shower. Observes and reports changes in skin condition.

8. Provides or assists in oral hygiene and hair care.

9. Takes and records temperature, pulse, and respirations.

10. Changes simple dressing (non-sterile dressing only) and reports changes in wound status.

11. Shops for food and household supplies. Plans, prepares, and serves meals according to dietary instructions.

12. Maintains a clean and safe environment for client by performing household services such as:

a. Cleaning and changing bed linens

b. Cleaning floors with mop and/or vacuuming

c. Cleaning bathroom and kitchen

d. Laundering, sewing, and ironing client clothes

13. Uses and maintains special equipment and supplies appropriately.

14. Informs supervisor of any change in client's condition or family situation.

15. Accompanies client outside the home when permitted.

16. Provides or assists with postmortem care.

17. Reminds client to take prescribed medications that are ordinarily self-administered.

18. Tests urine for sugar and acetone and records and reports results.

19. Performs additional tasks that may be assigned by the primary nurse or therapist, depending on the specific situation, on the Home Health Aide's experience and competence. (Example: Routine uncomplicated colostomy care and decubitus care.)

20. Performs only those duties listed on care plan except when instructed otherwise by clinical supervisor.

The home health aide is a mature person who:

1. Is at least 18 years old.

2. Is flexible, sensitive to the needs of others, reliable, and able to cope with emergencies.

3. Has successfully completed the required training program or its equivalent for Home Health Aides and has demonstrated competency.

4. Is able to read, write, and speak English.

5. Is able to carry out and understand directions and instructions.

6. Is able to record messages and keep records.

7. Is physically and emotionally capable of performing the job.