There are many things to take into consideration before deciding to get a home health aide certification. Various factors contribute to the recent rise in home health aide jobs including an aging population and increasing health issues throughout the country. Before applying to a home health aide agency you need to take the time to consider if home health aide certification is really for you. Home health aides do very important work but it is not glamorous. Home health aide work is really a labor of love and should not be entered into lightly.

A part of the home health aide certification process is completing a thorough background check. You will be asked about any prior criminal history. Your professional history will also be inquired about and taken into consideration. You must be able to prove that you are reliable to hiring mangers if you want to be considered for home health aide jobs.

The educational requirements usually include at least a high school diploma to become a home health aide. A high school diploma plus Continue Reading »

A home health aide agency is a healthcare company that specializes in providing care to patients who are recovering or need ongoing medical attention. An example of someone who is recovering would be someone who has recently had surgery and needs medical supervision for a period of time while someone who needs ongoing care could be someone with dementia. Home health jobs vary depending on the needs of the patient and the setting you are assigned to work in. There are several questions to consider asking before agreeing to work for a home health aide agency.

What should you ask a Home Health Agency?

1. What does it take to become a home health aide?

You must be ready to face very challenging and stressful situations on a daily basis if you are considering becoming a home health aide. Don’t let this scare you! A career as a home health aide is very rewarding. You need to be patient and mature if you are going to work as  a home health aide. People who lack patience will not be able to gently care for individuals who can’t care for themselves.

2.   Online Home Health Aide Training versus Land Based Home Health Aide Training? Continue Reading »

A good certified home health aide curriculum can be the difference between you receiving certification and simply remaining a lay person. If you want to apply for home health aide jobs you must complete a proper home health aide training program and complete the home health aide test. There are several different textbooks to help you reach your goals and prepare for the certification test.

Home Health Aide Textbook Reviews

The first on the list of certified home health aide textbooks is, “Home Health Aide Training Manual and Handbook” by Emmanuel C. Anene. This book is divided into easy to understand sections including an informational section which discusses the various skills of a home health aide, procedural guidelines, and the rights of home care patients.

The information in the Home Health Aide Training Manual And Handbook is good to know and will help guide you as you make decisions during your day-to-day work routine. Everything from how to properly wash your hands to respect and patient confidentiality is discussed in this text. The list of important telephone numbers to know included in the book makes this book invaluable. It’s good to have a resource that has vital information such as important numbers listed all in one easy to access location for you to search through if you ever have an emergency on the job or need some assistance. This is also one of the more affordable texts listed on this review.

An easy to digest home health aide curriculum will be very beneficial and engaging to future home health aides who are preparing for the home health aide certification exam. Textbooks that are colorful and also highlight information in a way that is easy to find and well-organized are ideal for receiving and processing information. “Mosby’s Textbook for the Home Care Aide” by Joan Birchenall and Eileen Streight is organized in an easy to digest manner. The questions asked in the back of this text are a great study aide for the home health aide examination.

If you have a firm grasp and understanding of each of the questions asked in the back of the text then you are on your way to passing the certification exam! Topics covered in this text include procedures discussed in an easy to understand step-by-step format and realistic scenarios you will encounter as an aide. Most new jobs have challenges that are helpful to be aware of before you start your job and this book highlights many of them. This information is what makes this book a good investment.

Other certified home health aide textbooks previously reviewed include “The Home Health Aide Handbook” by Jetta Fuzy RN MS by William Leahy MD. This text is highly regarded and provides information about transitioning from working in institutions to homes for transitioning certified nursing assistants.

“Providing Home Care a Textbook for Home Health Aides” by William Leahy, Jetta Fuzy, July Grafe provides in depth information about the duties of a home health aides. This book can be used as a procedural guide while you’re on the job. This is ideal for new aides who don’t have much supervision and need a resource to turn to with the proper information included in it.

“How to Land a Top-Paying Home Health Aides and Personal Homecare Aides Job“ by Brad Andrews will walk you through the nitty-gritty information you need to know to get the best paying jobs in home health aide industry. There are several home health aide textbooks to consider. Invest in textbooks that are easy for you to understand and that you can find information in very quickly.

Taking the home health aide test is a requirement in most states if you want to work for a home health aide agency. You must take a home health aide test before you begin working as proof that you are capable of doing the demanding work required of home health aides. As long as you study and have adequate home health aide training and a proper text book you will be able to pass the home health aide test and apply for home health aide jobs. The test is pretty straight forward as long as you prepare a few weeks in advance you should be able to pass.

Home health aides typically have to do clinical work to get an understanding of what they will be doing in their day-to-day work. A sample test for home health aides can be found in text books like “Workbook for Balduzzi/Spatz’s Homemaker Home Health Aide.” This book contains a lot of the information that home health aides typically need to know for the home health aide test. Topics discussed in “Workbook for Balduzzi/Spatz’s Homemaker Home Health Aide” include becoming a home health aide, stages of human development and employment.  Here are a few questions from the sample test for certified home health aide to know in advance: Continue Reading »

There are very few industries nowadays that offer free training and certification. Did you know you could earn your home health aide certification for free? Free Home Health Aide training is available in some areas. You have to do your research to find out if free home health aide training is available where you live. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in home health aide jobs.

Home Health Aide Training Requirements

In order to work legally as a home health aide you must complete certification and a home health aide certification program. Home health aide jobs typically require you to complete training before you can be hired. One place to search online for free home health aide training would be job forums such as indeed.com. Home health aide agencies also advertise in the paper that they are hiring and offering training. Look for “free training” or “no training” required in any local ads or job circulars to find a local home health aide agency offering free home health aide training.

Why Free Home Health Aide Training

You might be wondering why a home health aide agency would be offering free training and home health aide certification. The simple answer is these agencies need qualified workers for their business. If a home health aide agency does its own training then it can better ensure the quality of its service. Good service means retention of clients and more business. Not everyone is eligible to receive free home health aide training and you need to know what most home health aide agencies expect before submitting an application to an agency.

Qualifications for Free Home Health Aide Training

There are certain qualifications you must meet to be a home health aide period. If you do not meet these requirements you will not be able to get home health aide jobs as easily as other candidates. If you have previous or relevant experience this is going to be beneficial to you when applying to jobs. You need to have a clean background and no prior criminal history. You will also need good references.

Pros and Cons of free Home Health Aide Training Continue Reading »

Home health aide jobs may vary because of the different types of home health aide agencies. Some home health aide agencies provide free training to candidates while others are looking for individuals with more experience. If you are currently wishing to receive a home health aide certification an agency that offers free training may be appealing. Which ever decision you make, realize that not all home health aide agencies offer the same benefits and level of pay. It is important to research any company you are considering working for prior to applying to them for home health aide jobs or training.

Health Aide Agency Requirements

Although you may not need a home health aide certification when inquiring with agencies that offer free training, you must meet other minimum requirements in order to be accepted by these types of home health aide agencies. Continue Reading »

Home health aide training is essential for anyone desiring to become a home health aide. There are different types of home health aide courses that may appeal to you based on your budget and schedule. Finding the type of home health aide training programs that are best for you is as easy as doing a little research online. There are a number of professional organizations and government websites that feature helpful information about home health aide training as well.

Home health aide training programs and courses vary by city and state, one of the best suggestions for finding a course is Continue Reading »

There are some important rules to consider when researching home health aide resumes. The proper home health aide resumes, training and advice can mean the difference between you receiving job interviews and possibly not getting the home health aide job you want. Some basic questions to ask yourself when writing a home health aide resume include:

• Why would a hiring manager hire me as a home health aide?
• What personal experiences do I have that show I am competent enough to be a home health aide?
• What professional skills and training have I received that is relevant to the daily duties of a home health aide?

Asking yourself questions like these can help you when writing your resume. It is important to tell your professional story in a way that sells you to prospective employers. Below you will find a sample home health aide resume presented into easy-to-understand components so that you can write the best resume possible.

Sample Home Health Aide Resume

Introductory statement

One thing you should consider when creating a home health aide resume is the introductory statement which states a brief overview of your professional skills, history, and accomplishments. Here is a sample introductory statement for a home health aide: Continue Reading »

Home health aides provide an invaluable service to elderly and disabled patients. With the population aging and needing special attention in regards to health and wellness, becoming a home health aide may be an excellent career option to explore. Home health aides work in both private homes and residential care facilities. A general home health aide job description would include providing personal care and medical related services to clients on a daily basis.

What are Some Home Health Aide Duties? 

Home health aide duties may vary according to the patient and setting they work in. Here is a list of some typical home health aide duties: Continue Reading »

Home health aide jobs are on the rise. The career outlook for home health aides is positive because of an aging population and increased number of people needed medical care at home. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook is excellent and long-term opportunities will be available because aides will need to be replaced in the future.  According to industry projections there is an expected supply and demand advantage for individuals with home health aide training because there will be more patients than aides. Challenging work conditions are also noted as a factor that could create less competition for applicants seeking home health aide jobs.

Home Health Aide Job Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states a 50 percent increase in home health aide jobs is to be expected over the next 7 years. This growth is more rapid than many other occupations. The restrictive expense of hospital care and nursing home care is a primary reason why many individuals will be seeking home health aides over the next few years. The belief that better care can be received in a one-on-one setting is also fueling the positive job outlook for home health aides.

Home Health Aide Salary

It is important to note that being a home health aide is truly a career for someone who genuinely wants to help people. According to statistical information the average home health aide salary ranges from Continue Reading »