Home Care Aide

Job Description

The Home Care Aide is responsible for providing care and/or assisting with care when appropriate. The Home Care Aide provides essential services to homebound elderly clients or patients with disabilities, a chronic illness, or other health issues. Such care must be provided in accordance with current Federal, State and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern the agency, and as may be required by the Clinical manager, Director of Professional Services, or the Administrator to ensure that the highest quality care is maintained at all times.

Essential Functions

Performs all personal care activities which are permitted to be performed as contained in a written assignment by a licensed health professional (Aide Care Plan)
Reviews safety risks within the patient’s home and takes appropriate action. Notifies supervisor on risks and actions, documentation actions taken.
Protects patient from injury while performing activities.
Uses appropriate techniques in performing personal hygiene and grooming tasks that include:
Bed bath
Sponge, tub, and shower bath
Hair shampooing in sink, tub, and bed
Nail and skin care
Oral hygiene
Toileting and elimination
Recognizes emergencies and has the knowledge of instituting emergency procedures within their scope if the situation arises while providing patient care.
Communicates effectively through ability to read, write and verbally report clinical information to patents, representatives, and caregivers, as well as other HHA staff
Reports to the appropriate supervisor changes in the patient’s condition including change in appearance, behavior, and other elements of body functioning.
Recognize and report changes in skin condition, including pressure ulcers to DPS/Clinical Manager or other members of the health care team
Provides proper body positioning for patients.
Assists with restorative exercises to include normal range of motion and/or other specific exercises and treatments assigned by a registered nurse, physical therapist or occupational therapist.
Uses safe transfer and ambulation techniques including the use of assistive devices when assisting patients.
Uses appropriate and safe techniques for personal care services: hygiene, grooming and activities of daily living.
Measures and records temperature, pulse and respiration
Provides basic nutrition and food preparation including planning meal preparation and serving.
Maintains clean and healthy patient environment.
Promotes patient independence with self-personal care and activities of daily living and instrumental activities of living by showing patient how to perform these activities and guarding patient while attempting to perform.
Measures and records fluid intake and output when indicated on the care plan,
Performs light housekeeping duties including personal laundry.
*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.