Home health aides help people who are unable to care for themselves or do the day-to-day tasks of life, such as cooking, cleaning, dressing, and bathing. They are also trained to perform basic medical services, such as checking vital signs, changing bandages, and administering medications. Precise responsibilities will vary depending on the client's needs. Some home health aides provide the same general services to all kinds of clients, while others specialize in certain types of people like the elderly, children, or mentally ill.
Home healthcare can be short or long term. Short-term care usually follows a hospitalization and only lasts until the patient recovers from an injury or illness. Long-term care typically involves someone with a disability, chronic illness, or cognitive impairment. Home health aides usually work in individuals' own homes. However, they do work in other settings, such as group homes and day services programs.
Home healthcare is one of the most rapidly growing areas of the healthcare industry. In fact, home health aides enjoy exceptional job security and one of the fastest-growing careers in the US. today. Industry experts project a remarkable job growth rate of over 35 percent during the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Learn about this exciting career today!