What is a Home Health Care Aide?

The duties of a home care aide are generally:

• Companion care, or providing aging adults with emotional support, opportunities for socialization, and assistance with daily tasks such as cooking, shopping, making appointments, and transportation.
• Homemaker care, or assistance with common chores such as laundry, cleaning, or even pet care.
• Personal care, or assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and other hygiene needs.
• Basic medical help, such as taking and recording vital signs and reminding clients to take their medication.

Home care aides may also be able to provide transitional home care after a stay in the hospital.

Each state sets its own standards for the amount and type of training that a home care or home health care aide is required to have, but aides generally receive training in:^[02]

• Communicating effectively
• Preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation
• Controlling the spread of disease and infection
• Record keeping and documentation
• Assisting in the self-administration of medications
• Social, recreational and rehabilitative activities
• Fire safety and emergency procedures
• Vital signs
• Oral hygiene, grooming, and bathing
• Skin care
• Managing difficult behavior
• Developing and providing social, recreational, and rehabilitative activities
• Risk management and fall prevention

Home care and home health care aides complete training in a variety of settings. They may attend trade school or a community college, or they may complete training on-the-job at a hospital or nursing home.^[03]

Is home care the right fit?

Home care and home health care aides work in private homes, but they may also provide services to people who live in an independent or assisted living community.

The median hourly cost of a home health care aide in the U.S. is $33, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.^[01]

Most families pay for home care out of pocket. However, there are multiple ways to pay for in-home care. Based on your loved one’s needs, some aspects of medical care may be covered by private or public insurance.

Home care questions? Get expert help

You can hire a home health care aide either through an agency or privately. Follow these steps to find a home care aide that’s a good fit for your loved one.

1. Determine your loved one’s needs. Does your loved one need companionship and a few hours of help with household activities, or do you feel unsafe leaving them home alone? Do they need support after a hip replacement or a hospital stay? Their care needs will help determine the level and type of care needed.
2. Consider your family’s budget. Before you reach out to home care providers, it’s a good idea to get a sense of your loved one’s finances. Do they have assets or savings in the bank? Are you and other family members prepared to pay for their care? Do any of the insurance options or benefits listed above apply to your relative?
3. Decide whether you’re looking for a private caregiver or an agency. There are pros and cons to both agency and private caregivers. With an agency, you won’t have to worry about payroll, taxes, licensing, or background checks. However, an independent caregiver may cost less, and you may have more say in who cares for your loved one.
4. Determine your priorities and interview providers. Work with your loved one to understand their top priorities for a home care aide. Consider preferences for activities, language, gender, and household needs. Develop a list of questions and be ready to answer any questions the agency or caregiver may ask.

Reach out to A Place for Mom if you aren’t sure where to start. Hiring a home care or home health care aide can be a complicated process. As you determine your loved one’s needs and explore the different types of care, you may want a partner to guide you along the way. A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help connect you with local home care agencies, talk through your priorities, and offer financial consultation, all at no cost to you.