Home health aides care for recovering patients, the elderly, or people with disabilities in their own homes.

Home health aides work under the supervision of a nurse.

They help clients with many tasks, including:

• Taking medication
• Measuring vital signs
• Getting out of bed and into the bathroom
• Bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Exercising

Home health aides also help clients learn how to use adaptive tools, prepare healthy food, or take care of a new infant. They may massage sore muscles and apply treatments, such as ointments or heating pads. They may also clean clients' houses, change their bed linens, and do laundry. Some care for children who are ill or care for the children of ill clients. Home health aides may run errands for clients. They may also accompany clients to doctor's visits.

Aides work with clients on a daily, weekly, or ongoing basis. They may entertain, read aloud, or play cards and other games with clients. They may form close relationships with clients and offer support and comfort. Home health aides monitor physical and emotional changes in their clients. When there are important changes, they notify their supervisors.

Aides keep records of their clients' health. They also record the work they do for clients each visit. Home health aides participate in case reviews with the entire care team. Care teams may include nurses, social workers, and therapists.