Home Attendants


Health Science > Home Attendants > Physical Demands
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Home Attendants

Home Attendants - Physical Demands

Home health aides frequently:

  • Stand for long periods of time.
  • Bend or twist their body.
  • Repeat the same movements.
  • Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for home health aides to be able to:

  • See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
  • Understand the speech of another person.
  • Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
  • See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
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  • Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for home health aides to be able to:

  • Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
  • Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
  • Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
  • Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
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  • Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
  • Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
  • Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
  • Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
  • Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
  • Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
  • See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
  • Determine the distance between objects.
  • Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
  • Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
  • Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
  • React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
  • Move arms and legs quickly.
  • Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security.