Home health aides provide health care and support to the elderly, ill, and disabled in the comfort of the patient’s own homes. Typically, these professionals can be employed by an agency or by a patient’s family. They often do a series of tasks, including keeping track of patient’s information, doing minor housekeeping duties, assisting with medical and personal hygiene tasks, and accompanying the patient for emotional and social support.
In order to be one, you have to acquire specific skills, qualifications, and certifications. In this article, we will go through all of them in greater detail:
Education
A high school education or GED is not normally needed for home health aides. Many job hopefuls, on the other hand, have acquired one of these certifications. To work as a home health aide, you also do not need a college diploma. However, you can pursue a degree or medical career training to gain further and more meaningful knowledge of the job. Certification in first aid and CPR can be beneficial as a starting point, so be sure to examine the programs available at your neighborhood community college, vocational school, high school, hospital, or local medical career academy.
Experience
Most careers as a home health aide necessitate prior healthcare expertise. As such, you can gain experience through another similar job, internship, or apprenticeship if possible. Caring for an old or sick relative or family friend can be a rewarding experience as well, as this gives you some exposure to caring for a potential patient.
Certifications
Certification is not required in most states. Yet, some states require home health aides to be licensed, registered, or otherwise certified. For this reason, before applying for jobs, be sure you know the legislation in your state. Generally, the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) are the two options for certifications.
CNAs learn how to give patients high-quality, safe care. You can enroll in a certificate program at a community college, vocational school, or high school to become a one. The majority of programs include both classroom and clinical hours, and some are even available online.
On the other hand, an LVN will focus more on monitoring vital signs, collecting samples, giving medication, and making patients feel at ease. After becoming a CNA, the LVN certification would be the next stage. These programs are typically 7 to 24 months long and are offered at community colleges and vocational schools. You must then apply for licensure and pass an exam after completing a program.
Look for Opportunities
First, build your resume that will include all of your credentials, certifications, and experience. Then, you may begin your employment hunt by going online or conducting some in-person research. Consider all of the medical and residential options available in your region, such as nursing homes and retirement communities, and then make your decision on which program to go for.
Conclusion
Working in home health care allows you to have a direct influence on your patients’ well-being and their families. You will get to create personal connections and have that sense of accomplishment knowing you are making a difference in someone’s life.
If you are looking for medical career training in Indiana, Medical Career Academy is committed to providing each student with the best possible education in many health-related areas. We can commit to each student individually and give full assistance at every step of the process because of our lower class numbers. Get in touch with us today to enroll in our program!