CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AIDE JOB DESCRIPTION

Every Certified Home Health Aide operates under a state-issued CHHA license and carries out physician-ordered care plans within the boundaries that certification defines. The role owns the patient's daily physical environment - personal hygiene, mobility assistance, vital sign monitoring, and meal preparation - performed across multiple home visits each day without a supervisor physically present. That independence demands sound clinical judgment. It is one of the few entry-level healthcare roles where a single individual is the primary point of contact between a patient and the broader care team.

As the Certified Home Health Aide, you deliver physician-ordered personal care and basic clinical support to patients in residential settings, ensuring continuity between home visits and the supervising RN or intake nurse. You carry a daily caseload spanning hygiene, mobility, nutrition, and documentation, working within state certification boundaries across licensed home health or hospice agency environments.

Career Impact: Experience logged across multi-patient daily caseloads builds the clinical documentation habits and plan-of-care literacy that CHHA-to-CNA and LPN advancement programs require.

Business Impact: Patients receiving consistent ADL support and timely vital sign reporting are less likely to deteriorate between nurse visits, reducing avoidable acute care utilization for the agency.

Growth Opportunity: Completing 12 annual inservice hours and maintaining current CPR and BLS certification positions you for expanded scope under hospice, pediatric, or specialty home health contracts.

• Assist patients with personal and oral hygiene, including bathing, grooming, nail care, and occupied bed changes per the plan of care.
• Record patient vital signs, height, and weight, and report significant changes in physical condition or behavior to the supervising RN or intake nurse.
• Prepare nutritious meals and provide feeding assistance according to physician-ordered dietary plans.
• Support patient mobility through ambulation, transfers, repositioning, and prescribed range-of-motion exercises.
• Assist with toileting needs including bedpan, urinal, catheter bag changes, and ostomy procedures as directed.
• Perform light household tasks, including laundry, bed linen changes, and maintaining an orderly patient environment.
• Document all care rendered, patient interactions, and observed changes accurately and within required timeframes.
• Administer medication reminders and assist with self-administered medications by verifying doses against prescribed labels.

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• 1 or more years of experience in a licensed home health or hospice agency, with demonstrated patient care competency.
• Current state CHHA certification (California, New York, New Jersey, or the state of employment).
• Current CPR and BLS certification from an accredited provider.
• Valid driver's license with reliable personal transportation and active insurance coverage.
• Ability to perform heavy physical tasks including lifting, bending, pushing, and prolonged standing and walking.
• Ability to read, write, and follow written and verbal care instructions in English effectively.
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality and work a flexible schedule including weekends and holidays.

• Dual certification as both a Certified Home Health Aide and Certified Nursing Assistant within the last 24 months.
• Prior experience supporting patients with dementia, incontinence care, or hospice-level needs.
• Demonstrated completion of 12 or more annual inservice hours reflecting ongoing professional development.
• Ability to make 4 to 7 home visits daily across a driving range of up to 120 miles.

• Daily visit completion rate, reflecting adherence to the assigned patient schedule.
• Vital sign documentation accuracy, measured by RN review of recorded entries per visit.
• Incident report frequency, tracking falls, medication errors, or environmental safety events per month.
• Inservice hours completed annually, with a minimum of 12 hours required for continued certification compliance.
• Plan-of-care adherence rate, assessed during supervisory home visits by the overseeing RN.

• Base Salary Range: $32,000 to $42,000 per year, depending on state and caseload size.
• Bonus: Mileage reimbursement and shift differential common in lieu of performance bonus.
• Equity: Not typically offered at this level.
• Health Benefits: Medical and dental coverage standard at full-time hours.
• PTO: 5 to 10 days annually, varying by agency size and tenure.
• Common Perks: Flexible scheduling, inservice training reimbursement, and mileage compensation.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Background checks, including criminal history and drug screening, are a condition of employment for all positions involving direct patient care. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States prior to their start date.

The Certified Home Health Aide delivers personal, environmental, and nutritional services to assigned patients under physician orders and RN supervision, including hygiene assistance, vital sign monitoring, and household support. Working within a home health agency, the role enables continuity of patient care across daily visits and team conferences.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist patients with personal and oral hygiene, including complete bed bath, partial or self-help bath, tub bath, shower, bed or sink shampoo, nail care, skin and facial hair care, and occupied bed changes.
• Provide incidental household services, including preparing light meals, maintaining bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen orderly and reasonably clean, and washing the patient's personal laundry.
• Take and record patient vital signs, height, and weight, and report any significant changes in the patient's behavior, physical condition, or family environment to the RN or intake nurse.
• Assist with enemas and irrigation of catheters.
• Maintain records related to job responsibilities.
• Participate in team conferences and inservice programs.
• Establish and maintain courteous, cooperative relations with the public, patients, and other personnel.

Required Qualifications

• Current California State Certification as Home Health Aide.
• Some experience in a licensed home health agency.
• Ability to plan daily patient schedule efficiently and work effectively with the public.
• Ability to use standard home health nursing supplies and equipment.
• Required to drive up to 120 miles and make 4-7 home visits daily.
• Stair climbing carrying up to 25 pounds of supplies and equipment, with repeated bending, lifting, and reaching.

Embedded within a home care team, the Certified Home Health Aide assists patients with activities of daily living including personal care, ambulation, meal preparation, and errands to support independent living. Working closely with patients, caregivers, and care coordinators, the role strengthens patient outcomes through compassionate, consistent service delivery.

Core Functions

• Log details of patient health, both physical and mental.
• Aid patients with personal care, including bathing, grooming, dressing, and following exercise or medication regimens.
• Assist with toileting, including use of a commode, toilet, and bedpan.
• Aid with ambulation, including use of a wheelchair, cane, and walker.
• Prepare nutritious meals according to dietary plans.
• Perform errands such as grocery shopping, simple deliveries, and transporting patients to appointments.
• Adhere to strict safety guidelines and applicable laws and regulations.
• Enhance the reputation of the company by providing compassionate, thorough service.

Qualifications and Experience

• Certified as a Home Health Aide in New York State.
• 1 year or less of homecare experience.
• Knowledge of procedures and techniques involved in providing related patient care, including infection control principles.
• Sensitive to differences in patient needs arising from cultural or ethnic differences.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and print simple instructions and notes, and speak clearly so others can understand.

Reporting to the supervising care team, the Certified Home Health Aide assists patients with medication self-administration, personal hygiene, mobility, and continence care while documenting all care rendered to ensure continuity. Partnering with caregivers, physicians, and staff, the role supports a clean, safe home environment and promotes patient independence and emotional well-being.

Primary Duties

• Assist patients with self-administered medications by opening bottle caps, reading labels, checking doses against prescribed amounts, and observing intake.
• Help patients maintain personal hygiene, including bathing, grooming, skin care, shaving, oral care, nail and foot care.
• Assist in feeding patients, communicate basic nutrition principles, observe and record food and fluid intake, and safely position patients for meals.
• Assist with patient toileting, including use of bedpan and urinal, catheter bag changes, and ostomy bag procedures.
• Safely assist patients with mobility, exercises, positioning, transfers, and ambulation per the plan of care.
• Report changes in patient condition and document pertinent information and care rendered to ensure continuity of care.
• Practice acceptable infection control principles and provide a clean, safe, and comfortable environment.
• Assist with household duties including light laundry, bed changing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and shopping when required.
• Encourage self-help in patients and provide simple emotional and psychological support to patients and caregivers.

Skills and Qualifications

• High School Diploma.
• Completion of a Certified Nursing Assistant or Certified Home Health Aide program within the last 24 months.
• At least one year of experience in the last 24 months as a Home Health Aide or CNA.
• Current CPR and BLS - AHA certification.
• Current driver's license with reliable transportation and insurance.
• Ability to read, write, and follow written and verbal instructions in English effectively.
• Ability to do heavy lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, and prolonged standing and walking.
• Demonstrates commitment to professional growth by attending 12 hours of inservice per year.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work a flexible schedule including weekends and holidays.

Sitting at the intersection of personal care and clinical support, the Certified Home Health Aide provides ADL assistance, mobility support, medication reminders, and hospice-specific care to patients in residential and facility settings. Operating across hospice and home health environments, the role ensures patient comfort, safety, and dignity through consistent documentation and coordination with the Hospice Nurse.

Duties

• Provide or assist with ADL activities including personal hygiene, grooming, mouth care, skin care, and nail care.
• Assist with toileting, positioning, transfer activities, and frequent turning and positioning of bed-bound patients.
• Assist with prescribed exercise and range-of-motion activities as taught by the Hospice Nurse.
• Feed and assist patients with meals, and obtain temperature, pulse, and respirations as supervised by the Hospice Nurse.
• Report any changes in the patient's condition to the Hospice Nurse and document findings on the Home Health Aide Certification of House form.
• Assist or remind patients to take medication in compliance with applicable regulatory and accrediting body requirements.
• Assist with personal hygiene, including bathing, oral care, shaving, skin care, hair care, and use of a bedpan or bathroom.
• Assist with ambulation and transfers, dressing, eating, and special diets.
• Provide incontinence care and support for patients with dementia.
• Assist with light housekeeping, including changing bed linen and patient laundry.

Experience and Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Must hold a State Certified CHHA license.
• Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation, and be willing to travel.
• Experience in hospice or home health preferred, with a minimum of 1 year preferred.
• NJ Licensed as Certified Home Health Aide.
• High School Diploma or GED preferred.
• At least 1 year of experience as a Caregiver or Certified Home Health Aide in homes or healthcare facilities.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English as needed for the job.