Home health aides assist people with cognitive impairment, chronic illnesses or disabilities, helping them with their day-to-day routines. They can be involved in applying topical medications, dressing wounds, changing bandages, and may even help with the grooming, dressing and bathing of a patient. As with most health care careers, home health aides should consider some kind of formal education or training to prepare for the job.
Whilst home health aides require no formal education, most will have a high school diploma at least. There are a number of educational facilities that provide programs that enable students to pursue their career as a home health aide. A number of these home health aide schools are located in Georgia, including:
At a home health aide school in Georgia, you'll be able to broaden your knowledge of the health care field in order to go on and look after patients yourself, whether this is in their own home or a specialist care facility. Most of the courses involve classroom based learning as well as laboratory practice. Each program can cover a number of subjects, including:
Once completed, many of these programs allow you to go on and sit the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP).
To become a home health aide in Georgia you don't require a specific license but the National Nurse Aid Assessment Program is used by the state of Georgia to determine nurse aide competency. This involves passing a skills test and written or oral test. Once both parts have been completed successfully, you'll be placed on the state register to show that you have met the necessary state and federal requirements.
Many employers may also need you to undergo on-the-job training. When working for an agency that receives reimbursement from Medicaid or Medicare, you will need to become certified by passing a competency evaluation and undergoing a minimum level of training. Formal training is sometimes available through home healthcare agencies, elder care programs, vocational schools and community colleges. And some employers may require you to have a CPR certification.
Listed below are metro areas ranked by the popularity of jobs for Home Health Aides relative to the population of the city. Salary data was obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
Metro Area | Jobs | Annual Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Athens-Clarke County | 800 | $24,210 |
Rome | 520 | $22,080 |
Dalton | 160 | $24,320 |
Warner Robins | 650 | $22,460 |
Gainesville | 940 | $26,620 |
Hinesville | 40 | $27,350 |
Macon | 1750 | $19,580 |
Albany | 1070 | N/A |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | 22680 | $26,530 |
Brunswick | 310 | $21,950 |
Savannah | 1740 | $22,650 |
Valdosta | 710 | $20,440 |
Sources: