Job Description:

Job Description

Position Summary:

Provides personal care services to the Home Health/Hospice’s patients as prescribed by the physician and in compliance with the state’s nurse practice act, Federal Regulations and any other regulations defining Massachusetts’ Home Health/Hospice Aide services.

The home health aide is responsible for the provision of a number of services to meet the patients’ personal care needs and to promote their comfort and dignity.

Reporting Relationship:

            Reports to the Clinical Manager

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides emotional and physical support to terminally ill individuals and their families/significant others.
• Assists in improving the terminally ill individual’s quality of life during the final stage of life.
• Provides respite care to the families and significant others who are caring for the terminally ill patients at home.
• Maintains and promote the independence of the patient and family and assists in maintaining a safe, healthful environment.
• Participates in the Interdisciplinary Group as appropriate.
• Assists with personal care activities including:
• Baths (tub, showers, bad bath)
• Mouth care, denture care, skincare and foot care
• Grooming (shampoo, dry and comb hair; shave, ordinary care of nails)
• Transferring (bed to chair, to wheelchair, to tub, to shower) with or without mechanical lift
• Dressing and undressing activities
• Ambulation
• Turning patient in bed and positioning for comfort
• Assists with household tasks directly essential to the patient’s health, including:
• Planning and preparing meals
• Assisting in feeding patient if appropriate
• Light housekeeping of the patient’s immediate environment
• Changing linens, making bed
• Laundering of patient’s clothing and bedding
• Provides Companionship and Life Enrichment activities for patient’s psychosocial and personal comfort, including:
• Taking the patient outdoors for fresh air, change of environment
• Sitting with the patient to read to them, engage in conversation, provide hand massages and other comforting activities
• Assisting the patient to make social calls to family members
• Advocating for the patient with facility staff
• Measures and records oral, rectal, axillary temperatures, pulse, respiration and blood pressure when ordered (within the training limitations of the Aide).
• Meets safety needs of patients including safe use of equipment (foot stools, side rails, step stools, wheelchairs, oxygen, mechanical lifts, etc. ).
• Performs range of motion and other simple procedures as an extension of therapy services as ordered (within the training limitations of the Aide).
• Assists the patient in self-administration of medication, i.e., reminding the patients to take their medications.
• Performs or assists patients to perform activities in accordance with the personal services plan, such as changing ostomy appliances, reinforcing or changing simple non-sterile dressings, measuring intake and output, external catheter care, and any other tasks as taught and supervised by the RN and in adherence to state/federal regulations.
• Immediately reports any changes in patients’ conditions or incidents to the RN Case Manager/Clinical Manager of Hospice Services.
• Accurately documents services provided in accordance with Hospice policies and procedures on the day that services are rendered. Dates and signs documentation with their credentials and submits documentation in a timely manner.
• Participates in staff development programs as appropriate for home health aides.  Assumes personal responsibility to participate in discipline appropriate education to meet the annual education requirements of 12 hours in 12 calendar months.  A score of 80% on each quiz is required.  If the Aide fails a quiz related to a particular education, he/she will be required to take the course and quiz over again.  The Aide will not be able to visit patients whose care involves the topic of the education, until able to pass the quiz.
• Accepts responsibility for maintaining skills, learning and adhering to the Hospice’s policies and procedures on an on-going basis.
• Accepts responsibility to maintain their HHA or CNA credentials with appropriate education and timely renewal of license.
• Other duties as assigned by superior.

Remote Type:

Salary Range: