How to Become a Home Health Aide in Delaware (Requirements & Schools)

There are some people who based on certain conditions, such as age, illness, or disability, need help with completing various daily tasks.

Home health aides are specially trained people who can help those in need, to complete those daily chores.

This is a growing sector of the healthcare industry, and this is where you learn what you need to do in order to enter it, in the State of Delaware.

Training and Certification

As mentioned, training is generally mandatory for this occupation, and in many cases, it can happen on the job.

Having a license or certification is not mandatory at the state level, just like in most other states.

In Delaware, the minimum training is imposed at the federal level:

• 75 total hours of preparation
• 16 hours of clinical training

Those in training will learn about:

• Processes of development and aging
• Personal care services
• Infection control
• Nutrition
• Maintaining the least restrictive environment
• Body mechanics
• Assistive technology

There are some conditions to be met before being able to enroll in any of the programs offered by these schools.

The conditions are generally similar:

• Being over the age of 18
• Passing a drug test
• Passing a tuberculosis test
• Passing a background check
• Having a high school diploma or GED
• Passing some exams:
  • Math
  • Reading
  • English

The programs last between 7 and 24 weeks and vary in prices, with some being offered for free by the employer.

When the training is over, you’ll have to pass an exam in order to get your certification.

The certification will be renewed every year after you complete your 12 hours of continuing education.

You may qualify to enroll for a program that awards a degree, such as an Associates, which in turn opens the doors for better chances at building a career.

Employment and Salary Information

Once you decide to apply for a job, you can try applying first to Delaware’s best agencies first:

• St. Francis Home Care in Wilmington
• Saints Home Healthcare in Milford

When seeking employment, make sure the agency has a license.

While working for an agency, your actual work might be in a home setting, public or private one.

Hospitals also seek to employ home health aides, and the payment here can be higher than at an agency.

Your working hours will be very different compared to an office job, and based on your working conditions these may cover weekends and night shifts.

While all these factors will directly impact your income, remember that in the larger cities the salary is generally higher.

Regional Salary in Delaware

Duties and Other Information

The duties of a home health aide vary in accordance with the work environment and the type of help the patient or client needs.

The most common duties cover:

• Personal care,
• Homemaking,
• Companionship,
• Basic and routine nursing-related duties

The nursing-related responsibilities are given by a registered nurse, or in some cases, by a therapist.

When the aide works in the home of the client, the registered nurse or therapist will pay regular visits to ensure the client receives the care agreed upon.

The aide might be required to be able to lift certain weights or learn how to manipulate certain equipment.

Depending on the duties you’ll be given, you might have to enroll in other training classes if you need further skills or knowledge.

HHA Schools by State