Be a Competent Home Health Aide: Here are 7 Important Skills for HHA Aspirants Like You
December 17, 2021
In 2015, around 4.5 million patients received home health care. Providing bespoke care services to the sick and the elderly in residential settings, home health aides (HHAs) are key workers in this field. If you want to be competent in this career and make a big difference in your patients’ lives, check out the seven most important skills for HHA aspirants like you. 

 

The growing demand for HHAs

HHAs help make their patients’ day-to-day living easier and more convenient. Performing this job entails assisting people with their mobility needs, doing light household work, and notifying their supervisors about their patients’ behavioral changes, among others.

Together with personal care aides, HHAs are expected to experience a faster-than-average demand growth in the US. From 2020 to 2030, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that around 600,000 HHA and PCA jobs will be opened every year. 

Completing a state-approved HHA program is required for you to learn the technicalities of this profession. However, there are beyond-technical skills that are important to have for HHA — skills that can propel your career forward and, ultimately, be beneficial for every patient that you’ll take care of. 

 

7 skills that are important to have for HHA

Working as an HHA, it’s imperative for you to learn basic medical knowledge and acquire caregiving skills. It will help in facilitating your patients’ care plans and monitoring their conditions. Below are things you must add to your HHA skills checklist to help you unlock your full potential in this field. 

 

  • Communication skills

  • On a daily basis, you’ll be communicating with your patients, their loved ones, your supervisor, and other concerned healthcare professionals. You have to know how to effectively engage with them and correctly discuss the treatment/s and care services that they need to have. It’s also vital to be able to comprehend beyond what your patients will say in words. Learning how to read their body language can help you become more effective in your job as an HHA. 

  • Keenness to details

A good HHA is someone who is observant. If you notice even the smallest details in your patients (for instance, a small change in their behavior), it can already go a long way. These details can signal something serious — matters that should be known by the patients’ physicians. 

  • Cleanliness

Once you become an HHA, you will help clients in maintaining personal hygiene. You’ll also perform some household chores such as washing the dishes, doing the laundry, and cleaning your clients’ spaces. Putting a priority on cleanliness is an inevitable requirement of being an HHA. It facilitates better mobility and prevents accidents (e.g. slips and falls) from taking place. More importantly, it helps both you and your patients to be more focused on improving their conditions. 

  • Time management skills

HHAs perform several tasks regularly. While assisting patients with their day-to-day needs, You must also make sure that all their appointments and schedules are adhered to. This is why time management is one of the most important skills for HHA to acquire and master. It’s not only beneficial for your patient; it can also help you maintain a work routine that won’t leave you overburdened. 

  • Adaptability

Each patient has a unique condition and capability. Though some may only require basic caregiving services, there are those whose circumstances demand a more complex care plan. Keep in mind that patients’ situations also change from time to time. Being able to quickly adapt can help you cope with these changes while guaranteeing the quality of the home health care that you provide. 

  • Patience

HHAs shouldn’t just be flexible and quick-thinkers. It’s part of your job to be patient with your clients. Always remember that you’re dealing with individuals who are chronically ill or are senescent. They’re not as capable as other people, and their situation merits utmost care, dedication, and patience from trained healthcare workers like you.  

  • Strong sense of empathy

Thriving HHAs have one thing in common: They have genuine compassion and a caring attitude. If you want to be utterly effective in this career, you must be understanding of your clients’ perspectives. And this is something that you must do day in and day out. Empathy is also best coupled with a strong sense of optimism. Positivity is essential in helping you become emotionally stable — an all-important characteristic that any worker in the healthcare field should possess. 

 

What’s next after knowing the important skills for HHA

Being a good communicator, adaptable, and compassionate are some of the best skills that are important to have for HHA aspirants like you. Through NY Healthcare School’s HHA training program, you can earn a certification in two weeks and learn the necessary knowledge and skills for you to be a competent HHA.

Learn important skills for HHA and enroll in our HHA course today. For inquiries, you may also reach us at (718) 840-3366 or school@nyhealthcareschool.com.