Career Overview

Home health aides assist those who are ill, disabled, or seniors who need assistance in their own homes or residential institutions and facilities. They can help people in hospice programs who are terminally ill or in day assistance programs. They assist those who are disabled get more involved in their community. Home health aides generally work with the elderly or physically or mentally challenged. These individuals often need more care than their family members can provide.

Education Requirements

High School Diploma

Employers like home health aides to have at least a GED or high school diploma. However, it isn’t required to get hired.

Licensure

Home health aides employed by agencies who receive funding through Medicare or Medicaid must have a minimum level of training. This training is made up of a minimum of 75 hours of a state certification program.

Top Schools for Home Health Aides:

Kaplan University
Ashford University
Everest College
DeVry University
South University Online

Employment Trends

Hourly wage for home health aides in 2008: $9.22
Jobs in 2008 for home health aides: 1,738,800
Projected Employment Openings for home health aides through 2018: 2,575,600

Related Jobs:

Child care workers
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Medical assistants
Nursing and psychiatric aides
Occupational therapist assistants and aides

Article Reference: Bureau of Labor Statistics