Home Health Care Aides
Description OES Code: 66011
Home Health Aides care for elderly, convalescent, or handicapped person in home of patient. Perform duties for patient such as changing bed linen; preparing meals; assisting in and out of bed; bathing, dressing, and grooming; and administering oral medications under doctors' orders or direction of nurse. Includes Certified Home Health Aides, Certified Nurse Assistants, caring for patients in their homes, and uncertified Home Health Care Workers.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $7.16
25th Percentile $7.72
50th Percentile $9.05
75th Percentile $11.04

Wages, San Joaquin County
Entry-Level Hourly Wage minimum
25th Percentile $6.63
50th Percentile $8.18
75th Percentile 10.98

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Hours & Benefits
Depending on the hiring agency, the benefits for full time workers usually include paid vacation, sick leave, and medical and dental insurance. Some employers also pay for vision, life insurance, and retirement plans.

Employment Trends, California
Employment 1998 23,300
Projected Employment 2008 34,600
Growth Rate 1998-2008 21.9%
Openings due to Separations 4,000

Employment Trends, San Joaquin County
Employment 1999 620
Projected Employment 2006 840
Percent Change 1999-2006 35.5%
Separations 1999-2006 70

Employment Trends by California County

Advancement
There aren't many opportunities for promotion in this job. With more training, aides can become Medical Assistants, Licensed Vocational Nurses or Registered Nurses.

Getting the Job & Other Information
Job seekers should apply at Visiting Nurses Associations in their area or private agencies or organizations that hire Home Health Aides. The yellow pages of the local telephone company can be a good source of employment leads for prospective workers. Additional help can be found at the local California Employment Development Department offices.

For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Education and Training
To work as a Home Health Aide in California, you must get the Home Health Aide certificate, issued by the State Department of Health Services. This certificate is earned by completing 120 hours of specialized training in areas such as basic nutrition, meal planning and preparation, home cleaning tasks, and techniques for bathing, turning, and transferring the patient.

Other training deals with emotional problems caused by illness, the aging process, and behavior of the elderly. This training is available from certain community colleges and adult schools. In general, finishing high school is not necessary to get work as a Home Health Aide. Other requirements of the job include having a valid California driver's license and access to a car, passing a pre-employment physical, and sympathy for and interest in caring for the sick at home.

Skills & Other Requirements
Home Health Aides work in patients' homes. They must be able to bend down, lift, and do other things associated with cleaning and cooking. They must also be able to handle patient suffering that might be due to physical or emotional problems at home.

References
California Occupational Guide: #461

Related Occupation: Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)