Careers in Home Healthcare: Home Health Aide - Personal Care Aide - Paperback

by Institute for Career Research

HOME HEALTH AIDES HELP PEOPLE who are unable to care for themselves or do the day-to-day tasks of life, such as cooking, cleaning, dressing, and bathing. They are also trained to perform basic medical services, such as checking vital signs, changing bandages, and administering medications. Precise responsibilities will vary depending on the client's needs. Some home health aides provide the same general services to all kinds of clients, while others specialize in certain types of people like the elderly, children, or mentally ill.Home healthcare can be short or long term. Short-term care usually follows a hospitalization and only lasts until the patient recovers from an injury or illness. Long-term care typically involves someone with a disability, chronic illness, or cognitive impairment. Home health aides usually work in individuals' own homes. However, they do work in other settings, such as group homes and day services programs.Home healthcare is one of the most rapidly growing areas of the healthcare industry. In fact, home health aides enjoy exceptional job security and one of the fastest-growing careers in the US. today. Industry experts project a remarkable job growth rate of over 35 percent during the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.There are numerous reasons for the growth in demand for home healthcare services, but it is mostly due to the aging population. Home healthcare has become a popular choice for baby boomers and the elderly because it is a cost-effective alternative to hospital admissions and long-term care in nursing homes and other care facilities. An estimated 88 million people will be over the age of 65 by the year 2050. That means home health aides will be more in demand than ever. There should not be a shortage of jobs for many years to come, making it an ideal career choice for people wanting a career in the healthcare industry without having to invest the time and money necessary for a college education.One of the main attractions of this career is that there are almost no education requirements. Some positions do not even require a high school diploma. Newcomers are often trained on the job by nurses and other medical professionals. Some jobs do require candidates to get some formal training and pass a standardized test. These are typically in certified home health or hospice agencies that receive funding from Medicare. The training can usually be completed within a few months. There are also voluntary certifications available for those who want to demonstrate their competency and commitment to prospective employers.Most home health aides choose this career because they have a strong desire to help people. It is not the highest paying job in the healthcare industry. The median annual income is just over $25,000 a year, but it has a lot going for it in other ways. The work environment, which is mostly people's homes, is typically peaceful and pleasant. There is flexibility, too. There are part-time and full-time jobs, and home health aides can choose how much they want to work and when. Students, new parents, or semi-retired workers can choose any shift, day or night, that is most convenient for their lifestyle. You can also choose what kind of clients you want or what neighborhood you want to work in. This is especially important since you will be driving to clients and probably will not want to spend too much time just getting to work. Home healthcare is not for everybody, but for those seeking a career with meaningful work that enhances people's quality of life, it is worth a look.