Home Health Aid

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Administer therapy treatments to patients using hands or physical treatment aids.
• Apply bandages, dressings, or splints.
• Assist patients with daily activities.
• Feed patients.
• Give medications or immunizations.
• Maintain medical records.
• Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
• Accompany patients or clients on outings to provide assistance.
• Engage patients in exercises or activities.
• Teach basic living or other adaptive skills to patients or caregivers.

Typical Working Conditions

• Frequent contact with others.
• Close physical proximity with other people.
• The importance of being accurate or exact.
• Working with a group or team.
• Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
• Making decisions that impact co-workers or company results.
• Standing.
• Responsibility for others’ health and safety.
• Exposure to disease or infections.

Tools & Technology used by Home Health Aids

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Home Health Aids

• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Helping Others—Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Being Aware of Others—Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Learning New Things—Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Making Decisions—Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Managing Time—Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Home Health Aids

• 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.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Philosophy and Theology—Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
• 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.
• 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.
• Therapy and Counseling—Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Communications and Media—Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Social—Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Source: Minnesota DEED Occupational Employment Statistics Tool

Demand
This career is seeing very high growth compared to other careers. There will be a 23.7% growth new for Home Health Aids to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Education & Training

This career is best for those with at least a high school degree, and many professionals attend some college. This job requires a license and certifications that could aid in showcasing knowledge.

View the local continuing education options from our partners: Central Lakes College & MSTATE

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Anatomy
• Chemistry
• Community Health
• Computer Applications
• Human Development
• Medical Ethics
• Nutrition
• Research Methods
• Safety and First Aid/CPR
• Sociology
• Statistics
• World Languages

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise