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If you’re considering a rewarding career in health care without spending a lot of time and money on qualifications, then becoming a Certified Home Health Aide may be the perfect career for you. The program consists of just 60 hours of training before you are certified. After certification, you have many options to practice home health care. The following information will help you find out if becoming a Certified Home Health Aide is right for you.

So what exactly does a Certified Home Health Aide do? Specifically, it’s just as it sounds- you’ll work at a certified hospice or for a home health agency, under the supervision of a nurse or member of the medical staff. Aides work directly with patients who need care, most often in the patients’ homes. Their duties cover a wide range of health care from medical reminders, changing dressings, and taking blood pressure. Aides also perform some light housekeeping, errands, and help in transporting patients.

What type of person should consider this career? As a Certified Home Health Aide, you’ll need to possess many qualities to be successful and to help your patients in so many ways. You’ll need to provide physical assistance and transportation. You’ll administer medical care. You’ll provide companionship and support during this time- so having a caring and friendly personality is very important. You must be responsible and compassionate. And you must also be able to perform physical tasks such as moving the patient in and out of bed, transporting them from wheel chair to vehicle, and bathing and dressing assistance.

It’s also important in today’s economy to consider the long term growth of the career you are considering. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has published that the growth for home health aides is expected to grow 50 percent between 2008 and 2018. As the population ages, seniors will need more health care both in their homes, and in long term health care facilities. And that’s good news for anyone considering starting their career in the robust field of home health care.

You can be certified easily and quickly to begin your career as a Certified Home Health Aide. Training and classroom work typically range between 60 and 75 hours. You don’t need a college degree, but a high school degree or GED is recommended. You can get training through classes and also through working directly with nursing staff. Your training will equip you to work in a variety of settings, predominately in client homes. You can also work in long term care facilities or in assisted living homes.

Becoming a Certified Home Health Aide can be your next career.   The health care industry is booming and this career is growing rapidly. If you enjoy helping others, if you are responsible and dependable, and if you want to make a difference in people’s lives, home health care can be the perfect next step for you.