What is a job description for a home health aide?

The job description of a home health aide includes various patient-care duties, including monitoring physical and emotional health, maintaining a healthy and safe environment for the patient and providing support services to the patient and family. In order to carry out these duties, the home health aide must possess the know-how and the willingness to perform many duties all centered around the personal care of the patient.

The home health aide assists families by shopping for the patient, performing housekeeping duties and bathing, dressing and grooming the patient. She may also teach the family proper lifting, repositioning and turning techniques so that they can do these when she is not there. Another important duty is to help the patient get proper exercise if the doctor allows it.

The home health aide records items in a patient journal pertaining to the patient's health and alerts nurses of any problems. She is also responsible for preparing any prescribed diet and ensuring that the patient is receiving the proper nutrition. Depending on the patient's needs, a home health aide may teach the patient how to use medical equipment, such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs and other devices. She may also instruct the family on how these items are to be used.