HHA Jobs Overview
Home health aides (HHAs) are trained healthcare workers who work under the guidance of a licensed healthcare professional to care for the elderly, patients with cognitive or physical impairments, patients with chronic illnesses, or patients with rehabilitation needs. While the scope of practice for home health aides differs by state, it often includes duties such as helping a patient bathe, use the toilet, and get dressed. Other duties may include taking and monitoring vital signs, preparing meals, and changing bandages. HHAs perform their duties in a patient’s home to help the individual maintain their independence, and in doing so, HHAs also offer companionship and comfort.
If you’re looking for home health aide jobs. Jobs for home health aides are estimated to increase by 25% over the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all other jobs. That adds up to around 711,700 jobs every year for the next 10 years. HHA skills are in great demand in part because of the aging population.
Home Health Aide Education
Home health aides are considered healthcare workers, which means they have a level of training that goes beyond that of family caregivers. Federal law requires a minimum of 75 hours of classroom and supervised training, though some states require more hours. It’s best to check with your state department of health or department of education for specifics.
You can receive your education through a vocational school, community college, home health agency, or other accredited body. Then, depending on the state in which you work, you may need to pass a competency evaluation and/or examination before you can apply to jobs for home health aides.
Home Health Aide Resume/CV
Just because your job is in high demand doesn’t mean you won’t need to impress a potential employer in order to get hired. Want to stand out from all the other home health aide applicants? Catch their eye with a strong resume summary.
You can elaborate on your training and experience in your cover letter. It helps to share a story or two that shows your skills in action. For example, are you adept at building trust with patients? Explain how you’ve achieved that in the past. An employer wants to know how you make a human connection.
Ways of Working
The majority of home health aides (47%) are employed by individual and family services, followed by home healthcare services (24%). That said, you can certainly find some HHA jobs in skilled nursing facilities and long-term care settings. Most positions are full time, however it is common to find part-time HHA jobs as well.
Ready to Find Home Health Aide Jobs?
Trained healthcare workers like you are in great demand. Look for the job opportunities that fit your needs. LTCjobs.com makes it easy for you to find your next home health aide job.