How to Become a Home Health Aide

A HHA provides home health care for people (patients) who need assistance with daily living in their home beyond what family and/or friends are capable of providing. Patients include those who have a physical or mental disability, are recovering from an injury or surgery, have a chronic illness, or are advanced in age.

A HHA may also be known as a Patient Care Technician, a Residential Assistant, or a Home Health Provider.

HHAs typically works independently while under the supervision of the patient’s registered nurse (RN) or physical therapist. The variety of services provided by a HHA depends upon their specialty, but typically includes the following:

• Administer prescription medicine
• Check vital signs – pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate
• Change bandages
• Physically move patient from one area to another (out of bed, bath, wheelchair, vehicle)
• Light housekeeping (laundry, change bed linens, sweep, dust)
• Provide massages to prevent bedsores
• Help with physical exercises and other therapies
• Bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Feeding
• Preparing meals as prescribed
• Support emotionally and psychologically for companionship and entertainment
• Provide transportation to doctor appointments or to go shopping

Being a HHA requires both physical and emotional demands. A person in this field should be strong physically and have good stamina because they may need to lift their clients and withstand long periods of standing and walking.

It is very important that HHAs learn how to move and lift patients properly to avoid injuring themselves. Also, because HHAs are in close contact with their patients, they must also be sure to adhere to proper procedures to avoid passage of infections and diseases.

A good HHA has certain qualities making them well-suited for this important career field. Without having the right personality or traits, he or she may find this field to be emotionally draining since some of the duties performed can be displeasing.

The following lists certain qualities that define a well-suited HHA:

• Empathetic
• Patient
• Compassionate
• Dependable
• Strong physical stamina
• Discrete
• Honest
• Service oriented
• Good communicator
• Problem solver
• Time management abilities
• Perceptive

Learning how to become a home health aide requires neither a high school diploma nor a formal education to become a HHA. But having at least a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) will give aspiring HHAs an advantage over others who do not have either.

If a HHA works for an employer that receives reimbursement from Medicare, Federal law requires that their HHAs pass a competency test which covers a wide area of disciplines within home health care.

Each state varies in requirements to work as an HHA. To determine your state’s requirements, contact your state’s Board of Nursing via the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) for specific information on whether or not you must be certified or licensed, the type and amount of training required, and what types of exams you may need to pass.

In some states, you must become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) before taking the state exam. A background check may also be required by the state you live in.

A HHA can also be certified by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). Even if becoming certified is not mandatory, getting your certification will certainly increase your chance of being hired!

Minimal educational and training qualifications are required for HHAs. Home health agencies and other employers will require HHAs to meet minimum training requirements mandated by the state.

As a HHA, you can fulfill the requirements in various ways. HHAs may receive classroom training as a new hire from an employer or potentially have on-the-job training from another experienced HHA, registered nurse (RN), or licensed practical nurse (LPN).

You can receive formal training opportunities from:

• Local community colleges
• Vocational schools
• Elder care programs
• Home health care agencies

Typical coursework included in a training program include: HHA Introduction, Medical Terminology, Nutrition, Basic Life Support, and Medication Mathematics. If you work for an employer that receives federal government compensation from Medicare or Medicaid, you must complete at least a 75 hour training program along with 16 hours of supervised training.

Once training is completed, a new HHA may be required to complete a competency evaluation to ensure they can properly perform tasks as required for their patients.

Without additional or advanced training, advancement within the HHA field is limited.

Click here for more information on how to get HHA certification and training.

The job prospects for HHAs are excellent! As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is expected to grow by 40% from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster that the average rate for all professions accounted for.

The demand for quality HHA will grow fast mainly for the following reasons:

• The elderly population is continuing to grow and older clients often have health issues.
• Patients are increasingly relying on care at home because it is less costly than staying in a hospital or a nursing home.
• Patients prefer to be cared for in their own home for comfort and familiarity.

As an HHA you can find a position in a variety of settings, including private home health agencies, health care services, nursing homes, residential care facilities, and state or county welfare agencies. In addition, you can be self-employed.

HHAs are many times confused with Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) as HHAs typically perform the same type of duties that CNAs are assigned.

So what are the differences? As a HHA, you will generally work with one patient at a time in their own home. CNAs instead work in a care facility to be responsible for a group of patients simultaneously.

Another difference between HHAs and CNAs are the requirements for education and formal training.

Schools that provide training require prospective CNAs to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Federal and state laws require completion of an approved post-secondary training program and thereafter passing a state exam.

As mentioned above, HHAs are not required to have a high school diploma or equivalent and the state you live in will determine if you need to complete a training program and/or get certified. Thus, requirements as a HHA are not always as rigorous as for a CNA.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for HHAs in 2016 was $22,600. The top 5 paying states for HHAs include Alaska, North Dakota, Delaware, California, and Massachusetts with a salary range between $29,200 and $33,290.

The best way to increase your salary significantly is to attain higher education levels and obtain your HHA certification.

Along with getting more education, you will also have more opportunities to transition into other areas within the medical field, have more opportunities and earn higher salaries!

For the right person, a career as a HHA is rewarding in many ways! If you get internal satisfaction from knowing you’ve made a difference in the quality in someone’s life – this is a great opportunity for you.

High job prospects, flexibility, low requirements to enter the HHA field, along with possibilities for advancement in the medical field are just some of the great benefits in becoming a Home Health Aide.

Career opportunities in the medical field are abundant and fast growing! Beginning your career as a HHA is a great way to help you decide if the medical field is right for you.

While learning how to become a home health aide, be sure to continue getting education to help keep your career options open.