Home Health & Personal Care Aides
Home health and personal care aides provide essential support to individuals with disabilities, illnesses, or age-related limitations in their homes or residential facilities. These professionals assist with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation, while also monitoring health conditions and maintaining detailed care records. They work under the supervision of healthcare professionals to ensure clients receive appropriate medical and personal care assistance.
🎬Career Video
🤖AI Resilience Assessment
AI Resilience Score
Score 2/6: high AI task exposure indicates this career is being transformed by AI (estimated from legacy data)
How we calculated this:
52% of tasks can be accelerated by AI
0% projected (2024-2034)
EPOCH score: 12/25
📋Key Responsibilities
- •Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
- •Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
- •Bathe patients.
- •Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
- •Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
- •Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
- •Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
- •Provide patients and families with emotional support and instruction in areas such as caring for infants, preparing healthy meals, living independently, or adapting to disability or illness.
💡Inside This Career
A typical day for professionals in home health and personal care begins early, often starting with reviewing client schedules and preparing for multiple home visits throughout the day. These dedicated caregivers travel from one residence to another, providing essential support that enables elderly and disabled individuals to maintain their independence in familiar surroundings. Each client presents unique needs and challenges, requiring adaptability and personalized care approaches. The work primarily involves hands-on personal care assistance—helping clients with bathing, dressing, grooming, and mobility—while also supporting daily activities like meal preparation, light housekeeping, and medication reminders.
Beyond the physical care tasks, these professionals serve as vital companions and advocates for their clients. They spend considerable time engaging in conversation, providing emotional support, and monitoring their clients' overall wellbeing. Documentation forms an important part of each visit, as caregivers record observations about health changes, medication compliance, and any concerns that need attention from family members or healthcare teams. The work requires collaboration with nurses, social workers, family members, and other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care coordination.
The variety in this field keeps each day dynamic and meaningful. One client might need assistance recovering from surgery, while another requires ongoing support managing a chronic condition. Some days involve accompanying clients to medical appointments or community activities, while others focus on teaching adaptive techniques for daily tasks. Whether working in modest apartments, suburban homes, or assisted living facilities, these professionals find deep satisfaction in making a tangible difference in people's lives, helping them maintain dignity and quality of life in their own communities.
📈Career Progression
What does this mean?
This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.
📚Education & Training
Requirements
- •Entry Education: High school diploma or equivalent
- •Experience: Some experience helpful
- •On-the-job Training: Few months to one year
Time & Cost
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Find jobs and training programs for home health & personal care aides- Median salary: $34K/year
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💻Technology Skills
⭐Key Abilities
🏷️Also Known As
📑Care Settings
This career includes 2 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.
| Specialization | Median Pay | AI Outlook | O*NET Code | Find Jobs | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $33,530 | 🟠 | 31-1121.00 | View details | ||
| $33,530 | 🟠 | 31-1122.00 | View details |
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