The primary function of a home health aide is to assist with personal care of the patient. The services of a home health aide are ordered by a physician and are given under the supervision of a registered professional nurse or therapist. The specific personal care for each patient will be determined by the registered nurse or therapist and will be given in writing to the home health aide. Aides will be available for service during agency usual hours of operation. On occasion, the agency may assign home health aides to evening and night shifts.

Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a (minimum) seventy five hour training program for home health aides that has been approved by the Department of Public Health; and/or demonstrated competency as documented through a passing grade on a competency evaluation.
• A caring attitude toward the sick, disabled and elderly.
• The ability to read and write.
• satisfactory rating on annual performance evaluation.
• If a Home Health Aide is on the State Registry they must be listed in good standing.
• HHA required retraining if no formal work in 24 months.
• Absent criminal background check.
• Understands the Home Care and Hospice Philosophies.
• The Home Health Aide will be trained in appropriate and safe techniques for performing personal hygiene and grooming tasks that include: bed bath, sponge bath, and shower bath, and hair shampooing in sink, tub, and bed.
• The Home Health Aide will also be trained in recognizing and reporting changes in skin condition.

Responsibilities:

• Assist the patient with personal care; Bed bath, Sponge, tub and shower bath
• Care of the hair, skin, teeth and nails; Includes shampoo in sink, tub and bed if directed by the registered nurse
• Clean nails and use emery board; No cutting or clipping of nails is permitted
• Shave patients with an electric razor
• Assist the patient with activities of daily living; Assist with dressing, eating, using the bathroom or with use of urinal, bedpan or commode
• Assist ambulation with cane, walker or wheelchair
• Reposition/turn patient in bed
• Assist with prescribed range of motion exercises and specific exercises after instruction from professional health personnel.
• Measure and record intake and output when directed by the registered nurse
• Prepare meals and special diets as directed; May assist with meal planning
• Perform light housekeeping duties necessary to maintain a safe environment; Change bed linen
• Light cleaning of patient's living area
• Laundering essential to the comfort and cleanliness of patient
• Maintain a record of activities and submit this record to the agency
• The Home Health aide is a member of the interdisciplinary team and is trained to recognize and report changes in: skin condition, behavior or overall condition of the patient to the registered nurse or other appropriate skilled agency professional.
• Completes appropriate records in compliance with the Agencies policies and procedures
• Attend at least 12 hours of in service training per year, for hospice inclusive of 6 hours of hospice specific education.
• Maintain confidentiality in all matters related to patient care
• Reminds patients to take medications which are ordinarily self-administered, as instructed by the supervising nurse
• Participate in case conferences
• To perform all required services consistently as ordered.
• Will perform other duties as assigned.

Although each position has its own unique duties and responsibilities, the following applies to all employees of Constellation Home Care LLC:

All employees will:

• Adhere to all Constellation Home Care and Hospice policies and procedures
• exercise necessary cost control measures
• Strive to provide and maintain positive external and internal customer service and promote a culture of excellence in customer service
• Must demonstrate effective communication skills by convening necessary information accurately, listening effectively and asking questions when clarification is needed
• Must be able to be depended upon to plan and organize work effectively and ensures its completion.
• Must be able to demonstrate reliability by arriving to work on time and taking breaks in the expected time frames.
• Will be expected to meet all productivity requirements
Must be able to demonstrate team behavior and must be willing to promote a team
• -oriented environment
• Is expected to represent the organization professionally at all times