POSITION SUMMARY

 The Home Health Aide is responsible for assigned functions of personal care to the client in their residence. The aide is a paraprofessional who is specifically trained, competent and performs in accordance with the physician orders and plan of care under the direction, instruction and supervision of the registered nurse (RN). The aide maintains a professional work relationship with the home health team and clients, and remains knowledgeable of clients’ responsibilities and rights, including the right to determine their own preferences.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Promotes client’s well-being, travels to clients homes to provide personal care established by the plan of care delegated by the RN and advocates for client and family preferences honoring person-centered care.
• Ensures proper documentation of visit observes status of clients’ condition and reports any changing conditions to the RN to ensure safety and continuity of care.
• Must utilize any and all safety precautions while in clients home and when carrying out personal care giving duties, maintains a safe, comfortable, and functional home environment.
• Performs client positioning, client transfers, client ambulation, and range of motion (ROM).
• Assists client with personal care tasks including assisting with bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming including shaving, skin care, hair care, nail care, and oral hygiene needs. Performs catheter, ostomy, and incontinent cares.
• Interacts with clients, family members and others, listens to clients and families questions and communicates to the RN.
• Maintains working relationships with RN, physicians and other medical personnel through clear and effective communication.
• Performs general housekeeping duties such as making the bed, changing bed linens and cleaning the bath tub and bath area.
• Maintains confidentiality of all client information at all times.
• Personally responsible and held accountable for following Meadowlark Hills’ mission and values.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supports other team members in meeting all job requirements, providing timely feedback, and actively participates in being a learning and teaching organization.  Willingness to continue to learn and seek improvement.
• Attends and participates in continuing education and in-service training programs.
• Responsible for staying abreast of current laws, regulations, policies, procedures and best practices and adapting to company and industry changes.
• Responsible for performing other duties as assigned.

This document in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employee is required to follow any other instructions and perform other assigned duties.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements below are representative of the qualifications, knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions/responsibilities.

Experience:  The Home Health Aide is expected to have acquired the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the job satisfactorily in accordance with current standards, guidelines, and regulations of Meadowlark Hills.

Education:  Must meet Medicare Conditions of Participation for Home Health Aide training program and competency.

Licensing Requirements:  Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) preferred.  Possess a valid vehicle driver’s license or must have access to reliable transportation.

Personal/Technical Skills:  The skills necessary for successful performance of the Home Health Aide include, but are not limited to:

• Must have a mature, sympathetic attitude and demonstrate flexibility, patience and compassion with ability to relate to and care for individuals that are ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile.

• Strong interpersonal and effective communication skills; ability to listen, ask questions and correspond effectively by telephone, in writing, and in person to a diverse set of people.

• Proficiency in reading, writing, speaking the English language, with ability to follow and carry out directions.
• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the clients served with ability to deal effectively with the demands of the job.
• Dependable, conscientious, positive, self-starter with ability to exercise initiative with a commitment to the clients well being and care.
• Must be a supportive team member, contribute to and be an example of team work and team concept.
• Must possess ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, clients, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must possess the ability and willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult clients.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Problem Solving: Resourceful thinking skills are needed in problem solving issues involving, but not limited to: clients care, interpersonal relationships, conflict resolution, and facilitation with clients and family members.

Decision Making: Logical sound judgment needed when making decisions and taking appropriate action concerning clients care.  Maintains compliance and safety standards while focusing on a person-first philosophy. Must possess ability to exercise initiative and make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

Supervision:  This position does not directly supervise other staff.

Financial Accountability:  Responsible for making optimal use of all resources including time, while respecting clients and Meadowlark Hills’ property.

Personal Relations: Honors all clients and family preferences through support, friendship, kindness, sincerity, communication and relationship building.  The Home Health Aide works closely with all members of home health services and team, RN, Home Health Director, physician, social services, human resources, clients, families and guests.

Working Environment: The Home Health Aide works indoors in a climate controlled well-lighted sedentary office setting with controlled temperature and air quality.  The Aide also must have the ability and is responsible for traveling to and from client’s homes and may be exposed to some unhygienic conditions, communicable diseases, infectious waste, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis Bviruses.  The Aide may be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals, compounds, solutions, supplies, equipment and electrical shock.  The Aide is subject to frequent interruptions involving clients, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances. The Aide is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the workday, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants and is often subject to hostile, stressful, uncomfortable, and emotional situations while helping clients and family members, personnel, and visitors.  The Aide must observe rigid, standardized guidelines to guard against disease, accidents, and other dangers, wearing protective equipment when needed.

Physical Demands: The Home Health Aide position requires moderate physical activity and continuous (intermittently during working hours) movement throughout the workday in order to perform daily duties, spending long periods of time standing, walking, and assisting clients. Requires the ability to stand, walk, push, pull, carry, move, bend, kneel, squat, reach, stretch, maneuver around and lift a minimum of 50 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 50 feet.  The Aide must use universal precautions in all situations.  This position requires the ability to pull up or reposition clients in bed, lift supplies, place equipment on supports, and bend over to perform certain personal care duties.  The Aide must also be able to quickly maneuver throughout halls, stairways, and clients homes in response to emergencies.  In the event there is a need to evacuate the home/building, heavy lifting may be required to assist and or carry clients to safety.  Must be able to operate standard office equipment such as but not limited to, telephone, computer, printer, copier, fax machine, etc, and various equipment and mobility devices, such as wheelchair, walker, gait belt, mechanical lift, etc., used by/for clients.  These functions must be performed with normal visual range, acuity, color determination, and the ability to distinguish letters and numbers. Good oral communication skills, the ability to speak clearly, and the ability to listen attentively with appropriate hearing acuity is required.  The Aide must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.

Work Hours:  Clients and guests require 24-hour a day care; so the ability to work nights, weekends and holidays is required.  Primary work hours are dependent upon the shift(s) needed for full-time and part-time positions.  Prefer no more than 40 hours per week. Hours may vary depending upon clients’ needs.  Adjustments to the schedule are made to accommodate these demands when necessary.

Qualified candidates must be willing to work flexible hours and have a strong commitment to take care of clients in their home. Duties would vary such as assist with bathing, dressing, meal preparation and many other various tasks.

Meadowlark Hills is a not-for-profit organization providing independent living, assisted living, transitional and long-term care for area elders and is a nationally recognized leader in person-directed care.

Employment Application

If you are interested in working at Meadowlark Hills, please fill out our online application. Submit your cover letter and resume to: hrteam@meadowlark.org