Home Care Aide

 HOURS:  MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8AM TO 5PM (ALTERNATING WEEKENDS) 

Summary & Objective

The Home Care Aide is responsible for providing care and/or assisting with care when appropriate. The Home Care Aide provides essential services to homebound elderly clients or patients with disabilities, a chronic illness, or other health issues. Such care must be provided in accordance with current Federal, State and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern the agency, and as may be required by the Clinical manager, Director of Professional Services, or the Administrator to ensure that the highest quality care is maintained at all times.

Essential Functions

• Performs all personal care activities which are permitted to be performed as contained in a written assignment by a licensed health professional (Aide Care Plan)
• Reviews safety risks within the patient’s home and takes appropriate action. Notifies supervisor on risks and actions, documentation actions taken.
• Protects patient from injury while performing activities.
• Uses appropriate techniques in performing personal hygiene and grooming tasks that include:
• Bed bath
• Sponge, tub, and shower bath
• Hair shampooing in sink, tub, and bed
• Nail and skin care
• Oral hygiene
• Toileting and elimination
• Recognizes emergencies and has the knowledge of instituting emergency procedures within their scope if the situation arises while providing patient care.
• Communicates effectively through ability to read, write and verbally report clinical information to patents, representatives, and caregivers, as well as other HHA staff
• Reports to the appropriate supervisor changes in the patient’s condition including change in appearance, behavior, and other elements of body functioning.
• Recognize and report changes in skin condition, including pressure ulcers to DPS/Clinical Manager or other members of the health care team
• Provides proper body positioning for patients.
• Assists with restorative exercises to include normal range of motion and/or other specific exercises and treatments assigned by a registered nurse, physical therapist or occupational therapist.
• Uses safe transfer and ambulation techniques including the use of assistive devices when assisting patients.
• Uses appropriate and safe techniques for personal care services: hygiene, grooming and activities of daily living.
• Measures and records temperature, pulse and respiration
• Provides basic nutrition and food preparation including planning meal preparation and serving.
• Maintains clean and healthy patient environment.
• Promotes patient independence with self-personal care and activities of daily living and instrumental activities of living by showing patient how to perform these activities and guarding patient while attempting to perform.
• Measures and records fluid intake and output when indicated on the care plan,
• Performs light housekeeping duties including personal laundry.

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Other Duties

• Provides transportation for the patient who privately pays for services when requested by the supervisor.
• Reinforces dressings when assigned to do so by the care plan.
• Able to work with physical, emotional and developmental needs of our patients and other populations served by HHA, including understand the need for respect for our patients privacy, and their property
• Complete appropriate documentation in a timely manner to assure compliance with agency policy.
• Demonstrate commitment and professional growth by participating in in-service programs and maintaining/improving competency.
• Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct in relation to information that is confidential in nature. Share information only when recipient's right to access is clearly established and sharing of such information is in the best interest of the patient.
• Meet mandatory continuing education requirements of the agency/licensing board
• Maintain your required licenses, certifications and mandatory skill updates.
• Comply with all policies, local, state and federal laws and regulations.

Supervisory Responsibility

• May serve as an interim department leader depending on need

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and push/pull up to 250+ pounds, walk, climb stair or ladders, stand on feet for extended periods of time, etc.

Disclaimer

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

EEOC Statement

CHS provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.