Do nursing homes have health aides?

Health aides work in a variety of settings, including nursing homes, hospices and private residences. Only a small percentage of health aides are employed by nursing homes, as many aides care for patients in their own homes or at facilities for mentally disabled individuals instead.

A health aide can focus on home health care or become a personal-care assistant. Neither position requires a college degree, although some licensed facilities require employees to undergo career-specific training and testing before they begin working with patients. Health aide duties vary but may include medication distribution, dusting, vacuuming and assisting patients with hygiene-related tasks.