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Home Care Assistant/Aide

Overview

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Home Health Aide is among the Top Ten Occupations with the Largest Job Growth.

Home care aides help care for physically or mentally ill, injured, disabled, or infirm individuals who are confined to their homes or living in residential care facilities.

To learn more, watch the video profile of "Home Health Aides."

You can download, save and print a PDF of this career profile:

Home Care Assistant 14 May 2008 [pdf, 175 KB]

Working Conditions

Most full-time aides work about 40 hours a week, but because patients need care 24 hours a day, some aides work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Many work part time. Aides spend many hours standing and walking, and they often face heavy workloads.

AA woman helping old man in walker (Photo: Getty Images)

Average Salary

$19,947

Years in school

0

Job outlook

Excellent

Sponsor

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Academic Requirements

In many cases, neither a high school diploma nor previous work experience is necessary for a job as a home care aide, but online training is available for practitioners who want to be the best home health aide they can be. Certification is not required, but there is a requirement to demonstrate competency prior to performing services. Search for schools that provide training for this career.

In addition, home care aides who work for Medicare-certified home health agencies must complete a competency evaluation program that meets certain Federal regulation standards. This generally involves passing a competency test covering 12 areas.

For more information on pursuing this or another career in nursing, see the user-friendly and extensive http://www.discovernursing.com/.