Home Health Aide

Summary

The home health aide is a paraprofessional member of the home care team who works under the supervision of a registered nurse or therapist and performs various personal care services as necessary to meet the patients needs. The home health aide is responsible for observing patients, reporting these observations, and documenting observations and care performed.

The home health aide will be assigned in a manner that promotes quality, continuity, and safety of a patients care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities *

• Appropriately assists clients with personal care activities in accordance with the personal care plan including:
  • Baths (tub, shower, bed bath)
  • Oral care, denture care, skin care, foot care
  • Grooming (shampoo, dry and comb hair, shave, cleaning & filing of nails)
  • Elimination needs (bedpan, commode, toilet)
  • Transferring (bed to chair, to wheelchair, to tub, to shower, Hoyer)
  • Dressing and undressing activities
  • Assistance with ambulation
  • Assist patient with range of motion exercises.
  • Perineal Care, Incontinent Care, Bowel Care
  • Catheter Care
  • Ostomy Care
  • Post-mortem Care
• Appropriately assists with household tasks directly essential to the clients health and in accordance with the personal care plan including:
  • Preparation and set up of nutritious meals.
  • Assisting in feeding client as directed
  • Light housekeeping of clients immediate environment
  • Change linen, make bed.
  • Laundry of clients clothing and bedding
• Demonstrates appropriate and safe knowledge/use of equipment (Hoyer lifts, side rails, wheelchairs, oxygen, etc.) within training limitation.
• Performs range of motion and other simple procedures as an extension of therapy service as ordered (within training limitation).
• Assists the client in self-administration of medication, (i.e., reminding the client to take their medications as assigned by the RN and documented on the personal services care plan).
• Performs other service appropriate for the discipline, as requested by the Clinical Director or designee, and/or directed via the personal plan of care.
• Accurately and thoroughly documents service provided in accordance with agency policy and the personal plan of care on day services are rendered.
• Submission of clinical documentation, visit notes and daily time summaries/time sheets is required for satisfactory completion of an assignment as defined by Company policy.
• Immediately reports any changes in clients condition or incidents to the Case Manager or Clinical Director.
• Establishes and maintains effective communication and a professional relationship with client/families.
• Participates in case conferences with other members of the healthcare team as appropriate.
• Maintains confidentiality in relation to all patient/clients, healthcare staff and documentation. Seeks direction from the Clinical Director/designee when/if asked to share any patient/client information with outside parties.
• Participates in quality assessment and improvement activities as assigned. Communicates information that enables collection and root cause analysis of data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Maintains and enhances skill through attending appropriate staff development programs and in-services.
• Meets or exceeds annual education requirements in accordance with Company policy, state/federal regulations.
• Appearance is professional and complies with agency dress code.
• Assignments are fulfilled with reliability and punctuality.
• Maintains a cooperative manner towards client/family and all members of the healthcare team.
• Listens and responds to clients needs in a sensitive and timely manner either through own initiative as appropriate, or by timely referral to the Case Manager or Clinical Director.
• Performs other duties, as assigned, in response to patient/client, office and/or facility needs appropriate for the discipline.
• The Care Coordinator or Scheduling Supervisor will assign home Health Aides to patients as needed.
• The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description.

• Harmony Home Health & Hospice offers services to patients in need of home care, hospice and/or pediatric care; therefore, the skills needed will depend on the patient being seen.

Qualifications and Experience

• Meets the training requirements in accordance with state and federal laws.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Ability to read and follow written instructions and document care given in English.
• Self-directed with the ability to work with little direct supervision.
• Empathy for the needs of the ill, injured, frail and the impaired.
• Demonstrates tact, patience, and good personal hygiene.
• Licensed driver with automobile that is insured in accordance with Organization requirements and is in good working order.
• A criminal background check must be performed before hire.
• Complete and pass skill evaluation.
• Maintain current TB test, drivers license and CPR card on file.

Note: Effective August 14, 1990, a person who has successfully completed a state established or other training program that meets the requirements of CFR 484.36(a) and a competency evaluation program, or state licensure program that meets the requirements of CFR 484.36(b), or a competency evaluation program or state licensure program that meets the requirements of S 484.36(b

Physical demands and work environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: While performing duties of this job, the employee is required to perform job related duties which may require lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, pulling, talking, hearing, and the ability to provide partial or complete assistance with activities of daily living without assistance from another healthcare worker or caregiver. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.