Home Health Aide

Certified Home Health Aide

Provides personal care and homemaking services essential to the patient's health care and comfort at home, under the supervision of a registered nurse, including shopping, errands, laundry, meal planning and preparation, serving meals, childcare, and assisting the patient with activities of daily living.

Follows the plan of care to provide safe, competent care to the client. Helps the patient to maintain good personal hygiene and assists in maintaining a healthful, safe environment. Plans and prepares nutritious meals, grocery shops, when instructed to do so, by the nurse. Assists the patient with ambulation, as ordered, by the physician, and approved, and supervised, by the nurse. Assists the therapy personnel, as needed, with rehabilitative processes. Encourages the patient to become as independent as possible, according to the nursing care plan. Attempts to promote patient's mental alertness, through involvement in activities of interest. Gives simple emotional, and psychological, support to the patient and other members of the household, and establishes a relationship with patient and family, which transmits trust and confidentiality. Reports any change in the patient's mental, or physical, condition, or in the home situation, to the staff nurse or to the Aide supervisor. Performs routine housekeeping tasks, as related to a safe and comfortable environment for the patient, as instructed by the professional nurse. Prepares a weekly Activity Sheet visit report, promptly, and incorporates same in the clinical record, weekly. Confirms, on a weekly basis, the scheduling of visits so that other necessary visits, by staff members, can be coordinated. Works with personnel of other community agencies involved in the patient's care, as directed by the nurse. Attends in-service, as required by regulation or Firm policy.

Environment and physical requirements include contact with clients under a wide variety of circumstances. Care is provided in client's living environment with varying situations, including private homes, independent or assisted living, or in an institution such as a hospital or long-term care facility. May be required to respond to emergency situations. Position includes tasks that have the potential for exposure to blood / body fluids / tissues and other potentially infectious material such as body fluids / tissues. Must be able to stand, walk, squat, bend, kneel, reach, twist, push, and pull. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. Corrected visual and hearing acuity required.

Qualifications include a high school diploma or equivalent.