Medical
Home Caretaker

Home Health Aide

Are you a compassionate person? Ever helped care for a sick friend or family member? Learn how to do it professionally to make a big difference in people's lives every day.

Assist patients in their homes with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Provide companionship and mobility support.

Salary Range

$25,000 $38,000

per year (10th–90th percentile)

Median Salary

$27,080

per year

Growth Outlook

High Growth

2024–2034 projected

Make a difference in people's lives every day, Work as part of a team, Learn a skill that will allow you to live and work anywhere in the world!

Tasks & Responsibilities

  • Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
  • Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
  • Bathe patients.
  • Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
  • Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
  • Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
  • Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
  • Provide patients and families with emotional support and instruction in areas such as caring for infants, preparing healthy meals, living independently, or adapting to disability or illness.
  • Perform a variety of duties as requested by client, such as obtaining household supplies or running errands.
  • Direct patients in simple prescribed exercises or in the use of braces or artificial limbs.

Tools of the Trade

Therapeutic ice packs or pillowsWheelchairsShower or bath chairs or seats for the physically challengedLower extremity prosthetic devicesGlucose monitors or metersPatient liftsCanesUpper extremity prosthetic devicesOstomy appliancesCrutchesAbdominal bindersElectronic blood pressure unitsBlanket frames or liftersVascular or compression apparel or supportMedical heat lampsNotebook computersMercury blood pressure unitsExtremities cradlesKnee therapeutic brace or supportEnema kitsPersonal digital assistant PDAs or organizersWalkers or rollatorsDesktop computersWalking bracesTranscutaneous electric nerve stimulation unitsHome care ventilatorsPatient stabilization or fall prevention devicesOxygen therapy delivery system productsUrinalysis test strips

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. 66/100

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 61/100

Psychology

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. 40/100

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. 40/100

Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. 38/100

Medicine and Dentistry

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. 36/100

Law and Government

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. 34/100

Telecommunications

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems. 34/100

Transportation

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits. 34/100

Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. 33/100

Work Profile

Physicality
5/10
Training
2/10
Structure
4/10

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