Home Health Aide (HHA)

VITAS Healthcare; Mobile (AL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health care provider in Mobile, Alabama, seeks a Home Health Aide (HHA) to provide personal care services to hospice patients. This full-time entry-level role involves daily living assistance, supporting patient mobility, and reporting to the nurse. Candidates should have a high school diploma and document specific training as required. Competitive benefits and opportunities for training are offered.

Qualifications

• Ability to read, write, and carry out directions.
• Completed specific training as a Home Health Aide.
• Must meet required state qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal care and services to hospice patients.
• Assist with daily living activities and patient mobility.
• Report changes in patient conditions to the nurse.

Skills

Personal care activities

Patient support

Communication

Education

High School graduate or equivalent

Documented training hours

Competency Evaluation completion

Job description

Join to apply for the Home Health Aide (HHA) role at VITAS Healthcare

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:
• Help the patient to maintain good personal hygiene.
• Plan and prepare meals. Feed or assist with feeding the patient when needed.
• Assist the patient ambulation.
• Assist with certain treatments as ordered by the physician, taught and supervised by the nurse for a specific patient including: assist with the change of the colostomy bag; assist with the use of a walker or wheelchair; reinforce dressing; assist with prescribed range‑of‑motion exercises; assist with prescribed ice cap or collar; measure intake and output of fluids; and assist with medications that are ordinarily self‑administered.
• Read and record temperature, pulse and respiration.

Other Responsibilities for the Home Health Aide (HHA) Not Included in a Written Assignment May Include

• Assist in maintaining a safe and healthy environment.
• Promote the patient’s mental alertness through involvement in activities of interest.
• Provide simple emotional and psychological support to the patient, family, and other caregivers.
• Report any changes in the patient’s mental or physical condition or home situation to the VITAS Nurse and members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Teach basic personal care to the primary caregiver.
• Practice basic infection control measures.
• Observe, report, and document patient status and the care and activities provided.
• Complete at least 12 hours of in‑service training per calendar year.
• Handle other tasks as assigned.

The Home Health Aide (HHA) May Not

• Be assigned by VITAS to any institutional setting.
• Change sterile dressings.
• Irrigate body cavities (such as an enema).
• Irrigate a colostomy or wound.
• Perform a gastric lavage or gavage.
• Catheterize a patient.
• Administer medications.
• Apply heat by any method.
• Care for a tracheotomy tube.
• Suction a patient.
• 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 the 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.

Seniority level

Entry level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Health Care Provider / Hospitals and Health Care