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Home health aides play a crucial role in healthcare by offering supportive care for individuals in their homes.
While home health aides typically care for the elderly, you may also care for people of all ages with a condition that impairs their ability to care for themselves.
If you love helping others and want to make a difference, being a home health aide is a good option.
However, before you begin, you should know the pros and cons of this career path.
Article Table of Contents
- 1 Pros of Being a Home Health Aide
- 1.1 1. Flexible Schedule
- 1.2 2. Ability to Work in Different Settings
- 1.3 3. Job Security and Growth
- 1.4 4. Close Relationships with Clients
- 1.5 5. Learning and Practicing New Skills
- 1.6 6. Opportunity to Specialize
- 1.7 7. Training Is Short
- 1.8 8. Ability to Make a Difference
- 1.9 9. Gain Problem-Solving Skills
- 2 Cons of Being a Home Health Aide
- 3 Pros and Cons of Being a Home Health Aide – Summary Table
- 4 Should You Become a Home Health Aide?
Pros of Being a Home Health Aide
There are many benefits of being a home health aide.
These benefits include:
- Flexible schedule
- Ability to work in different settings
- Job security and growth
- Close relationships with patients
- Learning and practicing new skills
- Opportunity to specialize
- Training is short
- Ability to make a difference
- Gain problem-solving skills
1. Flexible Schedule
Home health aides typically have a flexible schedule.
It’s important to note that you’ll be expected to show up for every scheduled shift, like most jobs.
However, your schedule can be tailored to fit your needs.
Depending on your preference and scheduling needs, you may work during the day, evening, or even overnight.
Generally, you can expect to be paid more if you work “irregular” hours like nights and weekends.
You’ll also have the option to work part-time in most cases.
This is great if you are going to school for a higher level health career, or simply aren’t interested in a 40-hour workweek.
2. Ability to Work in Different Settings
The majority of home health workers work in clients’ homes.
However, this isn’t the only option.
You may also work in assisted living facilities, group homes, and adult daycare centers.
Healthcare clinics and hospice centers also need home health aides.
3. Job Security and Growth
Home health aides enjoy great job security, with a projected growth of 21% over the next decade.
This is because the population is aging at a fast rate, which increases the demand for the healthcare system, including home health aides.
4. Close Relationships with Clients
Home health aides typically care for the same people each week, which allows them to develop a close relationship with the clients they care for.
You’ll quickly develop a friendship with your clients, and get to know them well over time.
You’ll likely learn their needs and expectations, which can help you in your day-to-day duties as well.
5. Learning and Practicing New Skills
Becoming a home health aide is a great way to gain experience in the medical field.
You’ll typically be working independently, which means you’ll get plenty of opportunities to practice basic healthcare skills like checking blood pressure and temperature.
Perhaps even more valuable is learning to interact with patients.
You’ll learn how to motivate and guide your clients in addition to gaining clinical skills.
This can be helpful no matter what career path you take in the future, as it improves basic emotional regulation and communication skills.
6. Opportunity to Specialize
Home health aides can be generalists, or specialize in a certain subset of clients.
You may choose to be an aide to the elderly, children, or adults who are going through a physical injury.
This is particularly important if you want to continue your education and further your career in the future because you can gain experience in the area you are interested in.
7. Training Is Short
Requirements vary by state, but training as a home health aide is much faster than in most healthcare fields.
Federally, you must complete 75 hours of training before working as a home health aide.
Some states require additional training or a certification exam.
During training, you’ll learn how to provide personal care, how to handle emergencies, and basic healthcare skills like taking vitals and administering medications.
8. Ability to Make a Difference
Being a home health aide allows you to make a difference in the daily lives of your clients.
They will rely on you, and you can brighten their day during tough times.
If you are looking for a meaningful career, it’s a great option.
9. Gain Problem-Solving Skills
This is another skill that will benefit you in any career.
Home health aides must be great problem solvers because problems are bound to arise when caring for clients.
You can expect the unexpected in this field.
Cons of Being a Home Health Aide
Along with all the pros of being a home health aide, there are some cons to be aware of as well.
Cons of being a home health aide include:
- High stress
- Work is unpredictable
- You’ll be working independently
- Physical Demands
- Exposure to bodily fluids
- Risk of emotional trauma or burnout
- Higher risk of getting sick
- Low pay
1. High Stress
As rewarding as being a home health aide is, it’s also highly stressful.
You are dealing with not only your client but often their family members as well.
You will have many responsibilities, including caring for your client and basic household chores like cooking.
Which brings us to our next con.
2. Work Is Unpredictable
Depending on your personality, and the situation, this can be a pro or a con.
Your days as a home health aide will be unpredictable.
You’ll encounter unexpected challenges, and one day may be much different than the next.
If you prefer an element of variety in your work, this can be a good thing.
However, it makes it harder to prepare for your shift.
3. You’ll Be Working Independently
This is related to our first two cons.
You will be working independently, which has its benefits, including upgrading your skill set and problem-solving abilities.
However, it also has its downsides.
You won’t have anyone available if you need help with something.
If you aren’t sure how to handle a situation, you may be left to figure it out on your own.
Home health aides can typically reach out to their employer for guidance, but this is different than having someone physically there to ask.
4. Physical Demands
Being a home health aide is physically demanding.
You may be lifting patients with or without assistance.
You may do basic movements for them if they are bedridden.
You may also have to support them when they are walking and catch them if they fall.
In addition to working with the patient, you may need to move equipment like wheelchairs, carry groceries, and other demanding household chores.
5. Risk of Emotional Trauma or Burnout
This is the toughest part of being a home health aide.
If you stick with the job, you will likely lose a client at some point.
In some cases, they may be moved to a long-term care facility.
In other cases, you may have a client that passes away.
No matter the reason, it can be hard to say goodbye when you’ve developed a strong friendship with your client.
In addition to the risk of losing a client, things like seeing their health decline or them struggling with daily tasks can also take a serious emotional toll.
6. Higher Risk of Getting Sick
As a home health aide, you’ll also be at a higher risk of illness.
This is typically because you are in close contact with people who have a lower immune system.
They are more likely to get sick, so they are more likely to pass it on to you as well.
You are also at a higher risk of getting illnesses passed through body fluids.
Bowel and urinary incontinence is common among individuals who require care from home health aides, particularly the elderly.
You may be exposed to vomit, blood, or other bodily fluids during your job, which have health risks.
7. Low Pay
The pay is relatively low for this critical position, particularly when you get started.
The average pay is only $16 an hour, or an average of $28,358 per year.
Of course, pay can vary greatly based on your location, education, and the type of company or facility you choose to work for.
Pros and Cons of Being a Home Health Aide – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Home Health Aide | 9. Gain Problem-Solving Skills |
|---|---|
| 1. Flexible Schedule | 1. High Stress |
| 2. Ability to Work in Different Settings | 2. Work Is Unpredictable |
| 3. Job Security and Growth | 3. You'll Be Working Independently |
| 4. Close Relationships with Clients | 4. Physical Demands |
| 5. Learning and Practicing New Skills | 5. Risk of Emotional Trauma or Burnout |
| 6. Opportunity to Specialize | 6. Higher Risk of Getting Sick |
| 7. Training Is Short | 7. Low Pay |
| 8. Ability to Make a Difference | |
| 9. Gain Problem-Solving Skills |
Should You Become a Home Health Aide?
To determine if you should become a home health aide, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons.
If you are empathetic and have a strong desire to help others, it can be a great career choice.
It’s also a good choice if you want to continue in the healthcare field by getting more education.
However, if you are easily upset, stressed, or can’t handle dealing with things like bodily fluids, this isn’t a great job for you.
You’ll need to be strong physically and mentally to do well in this position.
Generally, people choose this profession because they feel called to make a difference.
If high pay is at the top of your must-have list, a home health aide is not the right career for you.