ITHP Lesson 3.1.1

​Lesson 3.1.1- Home Health Aides

Intro to Healthcare Professions
Unit 3: Allied Health Professions
Topic 1: Aides and Therapists

Lesson Objectives:

• describe the roles of a home health aide

• identify the skills and personal qualities needed to become a home health aide

• list possible career paths of home health aides

Lesson Vocabulary:

case manager- social service professionals who help individuals navigate challenging medical needs in life among others including homelessness and substance use disorders.

home health aide (HHA) - are well-trained, certified healthcare professionals who assist patients with personal care and housekeeping.

medical knowledge - the understanding and application of principles, concepts, and practices related to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and injury.

physical therapy assistant - work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists to help the patient with therapeutic massage and exercise to improve their bodily functions.

registered nurse - licensed medical professionals who provides hands-on care in different medical and community settings.

social worker - social service professionals who help individuals navigate challenging medical needs in life among others including homelessness and substance use disorders

Open Ended

What do you think a Home Health Aide does?

Home Health Aides (HHAs)

Well-trained, certified healthcare professionals who assist patients with personal care and housekeeping. They also monitor the patient's health condition and offer medical support as needed.

Roles of a Home Health Aide

1. Ensure Safety in Familiar Surroundings- provide care in the patient's own familiar surroundind and help them recover quickly in their own environment

2. Provide Customized and Personalized Services- It is unique to each patient and designed by keeping the patient's needs in mind.

3. Support Activities of Daily Living- Household chores like cooking, feeding the patient, assisting the patient in the bathroom, cleaning, laundry, taking care of pets and plants, grocery shopping are examples.

4. Medication Management- While they cannot administer all medications, they can make sure the patient is taking their medications and doing so properly.

​Step 2: Training programs are provided by many community colleges, employers, and technical schools. They require both classroom and hands on training. Be sure the program is state certified.

Step 3: At least 75 hrs of training is required by federal law which includes a minimum of 16 hrs of supervised practical training.

Step 4: After training, the next step is to pass a written certification exam. The test consists of 60 to 70 questions that covers 13 core topics. There is also a practical exam which evaluates skills.

Step 5: Once you are certified, contact one of the major registries to record your certification.

Word Cloud

Take a minute, do a quick internet search: How much does an average HHA certification program cost?

Skills and Personal Qualities Necessary for HHAs

1. Interpersonal Skills-empathy, patience, compassion

2. Communication Skills

3. Organizational Skills- time management, attention to detail

4. Problem-Solving Skills- be calm and creative

5. Technical Skills-use of common medical equipment, computers, math

6. Medical Knowledge-medical applications and patient care methods

7. Physical Stamina-be sure you are physically able to complete the tasks required

Career Outlook for HHAs

• Employment of home healthcare and personal care assistants is projected to grow by 25 percent from 2021 to 2031, a much faster pace than the average for all occupations.

• Nationwide, the median annual wage for home health and personal care aides was approximately $34,900 as of May 2024.

• In Pennsylvania, HHAs are often paid somewhere in the range of $14/hour (or around $30,000 annually) depending on region, agency, experience, and specialization.

Open Ended

Now do a internet search. Ask how much does an HHA get paid in (fill in your own zip code)?

What hourly rate or yearly salary did it give you?

Career Advancement and Alternatives

Being a home health aide can also be a stepping stone into higher-level roles in healthcare. Some possibilities:

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) → Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN)

• Specialization (e.g. working with dementia, pediatric home care, hospice)

• Supervisor or care coordinator roles within home care agencies

• Continuing education or obtaining further credentials to move into therapy assistant, social work, or other allied health positions

Poll

Based on what you learned today, is HHA a career you would be interested in?

Open Ended

What interested you about this career? Or what did not interest you about this career?

What's Next?

Next Class: Wednesday, 3/4/26

Lesson 3.1.2- Speech Pathologists

Poll

How well did you understand today's lesson?