Home Health Aide

HOME HEALTH AIDE / HOSPICE AIDE EXPOSURE CATEGORY I

BASIC PURPOSE & SCOPE:

The Home Health Aide / Hospice Aide will be supervised by a Registered Professional Nurse

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists with care of teeth and mouth.
• Assists with grooming - care of hair, including shampoo, shaving and the ordinary care of nails.
• Assists with bathing of patient in bed, in tub, and in the shower.
• Assists patient in moving from bed to chair, wheel chair, and in walking.
• Assists patient with toileting.
• Assists patient with eating.
• Assists patient with dressing.
• Completes assigned incidental housekeeping (performed only where there is a responsible adult in the household, who may be the patient.)
• Prepares and serves meals according to instructions including simple and complex modified diets.
• Makes and changes beds.
• Dusts and vacuums the rooms the patient uses.
• Completes dishwashing.
• Tidies bathroom.
• Lists needed supplies.
• Shops for patient if no other arrangement possible.
• Does patient’s personal laundry if no family member available; this may include necessary ironing and mending.
• Sends linen to laundry.
• Assists with payment of bills and perform other essential errands.
• Cleans lightly and/or tidies bedroom - may do floors, furniture, and bedding.
• With guidance from the RN Care Coordinator and/or Regional Nurse Manager, arranges the schedule so that patient follows medical recommendations such as increased physical activity.
• Takes temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure (on the arm) when advised.
• Keeps simple records as instructed by RN Care Coordinator or other supervising registered nurse.
• Accompanies patient to obtain medical care.
• Assists with medications that are ordinarily self-administered as instructed by the RN Care Coordinator and/or other supervising registered nurse.
• Completes routine Foley catheter care.
• Assists with changes of colostomy bag/appliance.
• Changes simple non-sterile dressing to stable wound.
• Assists with the use of devices geared to disability as aids daily living.
• Assists with prescribed exercises as taught to the home health aide / hospice aide by appropriate professional personnel.
• Assists with prescribed skin care.
• Assists with ice cap or ice collar with guidance from RN Care Coordinator.
• Performs simple urine test for sugar, acetone, or albumin and record results.
• Measures intake and output as ordered.
• Prepares modified diets, as prescribed by physician.
• Helps patient relearn household skills.
• Obtains specimens (urine, sputum) as directed by nurse.
• Assists with postural drainage.
• Assists with oxygen equipment.
• Assists with equipment for sleep apnea.
• Adheres to and reflects organizational values in daily work
• Serves on agency committees as may be assigned.
• Maintains obligation to report wrongdoing/violation of agency policies, applicable federal, state and local laws, and rules and regulations, as pertaining to agency operations to immediate supervisor or identified compliance officer.
• Completes all mandatory inservice education programs and completes any other additional inservice hours that are minimally required for the position.

The above examples of work may not be a complete statement of all assignments that may be inherent to the position. Other duties may be assigned as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Administrator/CEO.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 18 years of age or older
• Minimum 8th grade math and reading skills
• Ability to lift a minimum of 20 pounds, perform one person transfer under routine and emergency situations, reposition a bedbound patient alone, and able to sit, stand, bend, stoop, kneel, pull, climb, reach, lift, and perform repetitive movements of the upper extremities.
• Acceptable drivers license and automobile available for use with current insurance
• Has successfully completed a Home Health Aide training or equivalency program approved by the NYS Dept. of Health.
• Availability by telephone.
• Other requirements (physical) – see attached.