Home health aides and personal care aides
make a major difference
in the lives of their clients—
providing essential health care
that their families may not
be able to offer.
Home health aides help the elderly…
people with disabilities…
and those recovering from illness…
with basic healthcare tasks
such as changing dressings
and administering medications.
They monitor their clients’ health
and report changes in status
to licensed nursing staff,
who direct their work.
Personal care aides
—sometimes called caregivers
or personal attendants—
generally provide only non-medical services,
including companionship, cleaning,
cooking, and driving.
Their clients may be elderly,
or have developmental
or intellectual disabilities.
Both personal care aides
and home health aides
may help with routine tasks
like feeding, bathing, and dressing.
Most aides work in clients’ homes,
but they may also work in group homes,
hospice care, and adult daycare facilities.
Some see the same client daily for years,
while others work with new clients often.
Full-time work is common
but many aides work part time…
their schedules generally
depend on clients’ needs.
Most aides have a high school diploma,
although not all positions require it.
Jobs in certified home health
or hospice agencies
require formal training and certification.
Some states require additional certification.
While these careers can be emotionally
and physically demanding
—clients… and their families…
rely on the skills and integrity
of home health and personal care aides.