A home health aide is a medical professional who is responsible for helping their clients with day-to-day tasks, like bathing and dressing. They may also be responsible for light housekeeping duties such as doing laundry or dishes to ensure patients’ home healthcare health and well-being. Home health aides monitor the condition of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses and help them with daily living activities.
Home health aides work in a variety of settings, including clients’ homes, group homes, and day services programs. Most aides work full time, although part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary.
Home health aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, but some positions do not require it. Those working in certified home health or hospice agencies may need to complete formal training or pass a standardized test.
Employment of home health aides is projected to grow 33 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 599,800 openings for home health aides are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The DC Health Care Workforce Partnership is managed by the District of Columbia Hospital Association Program Services Company, Inc.
The DC Health Care Workforce Partnership is funded wholly or in part by the Government of the District of Columbia Workforce Investment Council (WIC).