Want To Add On To Your CNA? Take A Look At Home Health Aide

Several career paths open up when you become a Certified Nurse Aide, and this week we're taking a closer look at one of the most in-demand positions, the Home Health Aide (this course is only available in KS for now.)

Home Health Aides fill a valuable role in the personal care spectrum. A Home Health Aide performs all the duties of a Certified Nurse Aide, but does so in a client's home. Tasks generally include assistance with personal grooming, meal preparation, and assistance with transportation for errands and doctor appointments. Because of the relative isolation of home-based clients, a Home Health Aide can also be called upon to provide companionship and entertainment to clients. This often involves reading aloud, playing a game, or simply being available to talk and listen to the client. HHAs can also assist with light laundry and housekeeping duties, child care, and medication administration.

Contrary to popular belief, Home Health Aides do not work exclusively with the elderly. Thanks to outpatient surgical procedures, and the fact that recovery is often more effective and less expensive in the home, HHAs are often employed to help clients recover from surgery or changes in mobility. They also assist those recovering from the physical and cognitive impacts of strokes. HHAs even work with  new mothers and assist with infant care and household chores so new parents can adjust to the unique challenges a baby brings.

While Nurse Aides generally work at a facility, Home Health Aides make house calls and work with clients one-on-one in the home. Because of this, a Home Health Aide's work is varied and challenging, and may include more interaction with the client's family and neighbors than you would generally find in a care facility. If you like an ever-changing work environment, and prefer a close patient-caregiver relationship, HHA may be the perfect career for you. It is also great if you want flexibility in work shifts and locations. An HHA career is perfect if you are courteous, punctual, and comfortable reporting in and keeping careful records. It's a great opportunity to exercise independent judgment while respecting the policies of an employer and the persons in your care.

As more and more people opt to stay in their homes rather than move to a managed care facility, the demand for Home Health Aides is growing. According to the US Department of Labor, "Employment of home health
aides is projected to grow by 50 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations...The elderly and other clients, such as the mentally disabled, increasingly rely on home care." (source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos326.htm).

What is a Restorative Aide?

Like the CMA (Medication Aide), a Restorative Aide is a skill and a job classification that builds on a CNA (Certified Nurse Aide).

Restorative Aides work with individuals who need physical therapy or other restorative treatment. Their primary duty is to address range-of-motion and mobility issues that can impact a person's life and lifestyle. Because Restorative Aides work with everything from rehabilitation after surgery to strokes, clients are not limited to the elderly or residents of long term care facilities.

Under the guidance of a therapist, Restorative Aides assist with therapy activities and are responsible for documenting their clients' progress. The Aide is an active part of a client's recovery, and works as part of a care team. Like CNAs, Restorative Aides often serve as the first point of patient contact and spend a significant part of their time working closely with clients. It is a very hands-on job and requires patience and a genuine interest in the well-being of clients.

Our class is specifically aimed at CNAs currently working in (or interested in) an elder care setting such as a nursing home or assisted living facility. The class addresses the following topics:

• What a rehabilitation unit is and how it functions.
• Effects of aging, inactivity, and disability.
• Basic anatomy and how the body moves.
• Medical problems that will interfere with functional independence.
• How to help residents in ways that will promote independence.
• What to look for when helping someone walk.
• How to help someone perform basic exercise.
• Common equipment used in rehabilitation.
• Basic balance responses and activities to improve balance.
• Ways to interact with residents.

According to the US Department of Labor, "Employment of occupational therapist assistants and aides is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for occupational therapist assistants and aides will continue to rise because of the increasing number of individuals with disabilities or limited function." (source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos166.htm). They
also point out that our growing elderly population has an ever increasing need for therapeutic services, and that these services are most often provided by Aides.

Our Restorative Aide class is available in most states and requires 32 hours of online learning. There is no additional textbook--all class materials are online. \The Restorative Aide class is a fast, easy way to expand your knowledge, increase your employability, and bring a whole new set of skills to your job.

The Medication Aide

Continuing our look at career options for students of our classes, we're taking a closer look at the Medication Aide class this week.


Medication Aide is one of our only classes that requires any previous training. Students must already be a licensed Certified Nurse Aide/Assistant before starting the Medication Aide class. The class is currently available in Kansas and South Dakota.


Medication Aides are authorized to pass medications to residents of nursing homes, a skill that can increase both your job options and your salary. This is in addition to Nurse Aide duties, so the work still involves a great deal of patient care beyond just passing medications. 


While passing medications sounds simple there are many things a Medication Aide must know to be effective at his or her job. Along with knowing the major classes of medications and major modes of administration, Medication Aides must also be able to do mathematical computations to determine dosages and  administration frequency. Medication Aides must also be very detail oriented and able to keep careful records in facility and patient files. In addition, Medication Aides must be observant. They are a doctor's eyes and ears and spend much more time with residents than a doctor. Therefore, Medication Aides are the people who are most likely to spot an adverse reaction to medication, or to notice when a course of treatment is or is not working for a resident.


Job prospects for Medication Aides are excellent and the US Department of Labor reports that this is a field that is growing much faster than average. They anticipate up to 20% or more growth in this field between now and 2018. "Employment for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants will grow 19 percent, faster than the average for all occupations, predominantly in response to the long-term care needs of an increasing elderly population." (source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos327.htm). The need for long term care is also on the rise as Americans are living longer and often need managed care in their later years. If you love working with people, and enjoy the challenge of assessing needs and working to fulfill those needs, this is the career for you.