CFChooseField
Healthcare Support

Home Health Aides

Monitor the health status of an individual with disabilities or illness, and address their health-related needs, such as changing bandages, dressing wounds, or administering medication. Work is performed under the direction of offsite or intermittent onsite licensed nursing staff. Provide assistance with routine healthcare tasks or activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, toileting, or ambulation. May also help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry depending on the patient's abilities.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Home Health Aides
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Preparation level

Job Zone 2
Usually requires some preparation, which may include a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
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Leading skill

Active Listening
A highly important skill for Home Health Aides.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
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Core knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
A leading knowledge area used in Home Health Aides.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
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Career interest

Social
One of the strongest interest themes associated with this work.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
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Typical work activity

Assisting and Caring for Others
One of the occupation's most important kinds of work.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
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Day-to-day work

10 examples
Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
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Software and tools

12 tools listed
Examples: Microsoft PowerPoint, SAP software, Linux.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Critical Thinking
  3. 3Monitoring
  4. 4Reading Comprehension
  5. 5Speaking
  6. 6Writing

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Psychology
  4. 4Public Safety and Security
  5. 5Administration and Management
  6. 6Medicine and Dentistry

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Problem Sensitivity
  4. 4Near Vision
  5. 5Inductive Reasoning
  6. 6Deductive Reasoning

Career interests

  1. 1Social
  2. 2Realistic
  3. 3Conventional
  4. 4Investigative
  5. 5Enterprising
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Empathy
  2. 2Cooperation
  3. 3Dependability
  4. 4Attention to Detail
  5. 5Integrity
  6. 6Optimism

Work activities

  1. 1Assisting and Caring for Others
  2. 2Getting Information
  3. 3Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  4. 4Documenting/Recording Information
  5. 5Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  6. 6Handling and Moving Objects

Work context

  1. 1Contact With Others
  2. 2Physical Proximity
  3. 3Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  4. 4Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  5. 5Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  6. 6Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Representative tasks

  • Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
  • Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
  • Bathe patients.
  • Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
  • Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
  • Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
  • Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
  • Provide patients and families with emotional support and instruction in areas such as caring for infants, preparing healthy meals, living independently, or adapting to disability or illness.

Software and tools

Microsoft PowerPoint · hot technologySAP software · hot technologyLinux · hot technologySalesforce software · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyPython · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyUNIX · hot technologyMicrosoft SharePoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Windows · hot technology

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.