Home Health Aide 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. HHAs provide home health care as prescribed by a patient’s physician. This is different from “home care,” which is limited to assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), transportation, companionship, and other non-medical 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 (although a dedicated caregiver may take on these non-medical tasks). 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, you’re in the right place. Jobs for home health aides are estimated to increase by 21% over the next decade — which is much faster than the average for all other jobs. That adds up to around 718,900 jobs every year for the next 10 years. Your skills are in great demand in part because of the aging population. Searching for HHA jobs where you can make a difference in someone’s life? Get started right now on IntelyCare.
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 on how to become a home health aide.
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 and Cover Letter
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. This concise paragraph at the top of your HHA resume quickly tells the reader why they should consider you for the position. Focus on your accomplishments and call out some soft skills. What makes you so good at what you do?
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. It can also be helpful to study up on home health aide interview questions employers may ask you.
Ways of Working
The majority of home health aides are employed by individual and family services, followed by home healthcare services. Still, you can certainly find HHA jobs in skilled nursing facilities and long-term care settings.
In addition to workplace options, you can also choose the type of schedule that fits you best. For example, explore:
- Full-time home health aide jobs
- Part-time home health aide jobs
- Contract home health aide jobs
- Temporary home health aide jobs
- Per diem home health aide jobs
- Travel home health aide jobs
Home Health Aide Agencies
These are some of the leading employers for home healthcare in the United States.
- Amedisys
- Trinity Health
- Bayada
- AccentCare
- LHC Group
- ScionHealth (formerly Kindred At Home)
- Maxim Healthcare Services
- Enhabit Home Health
- Visiting Angels
- VNS Health
Home Health Aide Salary
The average salary for home health aides is $34,990 per year, or around $16.82 per hour. Your geographic location, level of experience, and type of employer can impact what you earn. For example, Seattle pays an average of $48,200 per year, while Atlanta pays $30,560 per year. These are the highest-paying areas for HHA workers:
Click on the latest postings to see what the home health aide jobs’ salary ranges are in your location.
Ready to Find Home Health Aide Jobs?
Trained healthcare workers like you are in great demand. IntelyCare can match you with job opportunities that fit your needs. We make it easy for you to find your next home health aide job.