Home Health Aide (HHA)

VITAS Healthcare; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in home health care is seeking dedicated Home Health Aides (HHA) to provide essential personal care and support to hospice patients. In this rewarding role, you will assist patients with daily activities, ensuring their comfort and dignity while promoting a safe and healthy environment. Your compassion and skills will make a significant difference in the lives of patients and their families. Join a team that values your contributions and offers a fulfilling career path in the growing field of home health care. If you are passionate about helping others and have the required qualifications, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalent preferred.
• Must have 75 hours of training as specified by regulations.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with personal hygiene and meal preparation.
• Provide emotional support and report changes in patient condition.

Skills

Personal care

Meal preparation

Patient assistance

Basic infection control

Emotional support

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

75 hours of training

Competency Evaluation program

Job description

The VITAS Home Health Aide (HHA) is a non-exempt employee who is trained to provide personal care and services to hospice patients to augment care given by family members or other caregivers.

ASSIGNED JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs only those personal care activities contained in a written assignment. Home Health Aide (HHA) assignments may include:

1. Helps the patient to maintain good personal hygiene.
2. Plans and prepares meals; feeds or assists with feeding the patient when needed.
3. Assists the patient with ambulation.
4. Assists with certain treatments as ordered by the physician, taught and supervised by the nurse for a specific patient, including: changing the colostomy bag; using a walker or wheelchair; reinforcing a dressing; assisting with prescribed range of motion exercises; using prescribed ice cap or collar; measuring intake and output of fluids; and assisting with medications that are ordinarily self-administered.
5. Reads and records temperature, pulse, and respiration.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE HOME HEALTH AIDE (HHA) NOT INCLUDED IN A WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT MAY INCLUDE:

1. Assists in maintaining a safe and healthy environment.
2. Promotes the patient’s mental alertness through involvement in activities of interest.
3. Provides simple emotional and psychological support to the patient, family, and other caregivers.
4. Reports any changes in the patient’s mental or physical condition or home situation to the VITAS Nurse and members of the interdisciplinary team.
5. Teaches basic personal care to the primary caregiver.
6. Practices basic infection control measures.
7. Observes, reports, and documents patient status and the care and activities provided.
8. Completes at least 12 hours of in-service training per calendar year.
9. Handles other tasks as assigned.

THE HOME HEALTH AIDE (HHA) MAY NOT:

1. Be assigned by VITAS to any institutional setting.
2. Change sterile dressings.
3. Irrigate body cavities (such as an enema).
4. Irrigate a colostomy or wound.
5. Perform a gastric lavage or gavage.
6. Catheterize a patient.
7. Administer medications.
8. Apply heat by any method.
9. Care for a tracheotomy tube.
10. Suction a patient.
11. Provide any personal care that has not been assigned by the VITAS nurse or included in the plan of care.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High School graduate or equivalent preferred.
• Meets personnel qualifications of a Home Health Aide as specified in 42 C.F.R. Section 484.4 and Section 484.36.
• Documented evidence of 75 hours of training as specified in 42 C.F.R. Sections 484.36 (a)(1).
• Documented evidence that Home Health Aide has successfully completed a Competency Evaluation program as described in 42 C.F.R. Section 484.36(b).

STATE ALLOWABLE TRAINING/CERTIFICATION

AL, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, MI, PA, TX, VA, WI: CNA, HHA, HA.

CA: CHHA.

CT: Homemaker-Home Health Aide.

IL: HHA, NA.

KS: Home Health Aide certificate.

MO: Home Health Aide.

NJ: Homemaker-Home Health Aide.

OH: Home Health Aide.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to read, write, and carry out directions.
• Ability to travel per job requirements.
• Telephone available in home.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described for the Home Health Aide (HHA) are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of the Home Health Aide (HHA), the employee is regularly required to:

• Assist in lifting and transferring patients, as required.
• Lift objects in excess of 20 pounds.
• Stand or walk in excess of one hour per day.
• Talk and hear.

Specific vision abilities required by the Home Health Aide (HHA) include:

• Close vision.
• Distance vision.
• Ability to adjust focus.

The Home Health Aide (HHA) will be required to sit and stoop, kneel, and crouch.

DIRECTION RECEIVED

• Reports directly to the VITAS Nurse.
• Receives clinical direction from the VITAS Nurse.