Home Health Aide

Job Summary

Performs duties under indirect supervision and direction of the public health nurse (PHN) or licensed physical therapist or registered occupational therapist. Provides personal care and household tasks for patient comfort and/or rehabilitation to patients in the home, adult foster home, assisted living, residential care, and intermediate care facility settings under a plan of care directed by the patients physician(s) to provide quality health care outcomes and facilitate the achievement of maximum functional independence of the patient utilizing health care resources within Kaiser Permanente and the community.

Essential Responsibilities

• Receives, understands, and follows care plan and assignment from public health nurse, physical therapist, or occupational therapist. After instruction by RN for individual patient care procedures, perform the following: routine bowel care, colostomy, stoma, skin cleansing and bag application; dry (non-sterile) dressing reapplication following removal of dressings for the purpose of bathing, and catheter care. After instruction by the physical therapist follow Rehab Care Plan, promoting activities of daily living independence, increase strength, and range of motion.
• Assists/provides patient with: Bathing, oral care, and skin care including bed bath, shower, tub, shampoo, hair care, shaving, perineal care, cleaning of teeth/dentures. Elimination activities including: toilet, bedpan, urinal and/or commode. Transfer in and out of bed, and when directed, provides ambulation and assistance with activities and performing exercises. Transfer of patients as necessary with mechanical devices such as Hoyer lift.
• Assists with medication ordinarily self-administered by the patient instructed by the PHN with assistance limited to: Reminding patient of when it is time to take prescribed medication. Reading the label of the medication container if the patient is unable to read for her/himself. Handing a patient-owned medication container to the patient. Opening the medication container. Application or instillation of skin, nose, eye and ear preparations only when directed to do so for a specific patient by PHN who instructs the home health aide in the care requirements of the individual patient.
• Reports and documents care provided: Notifies and documents changes in the patients condition or family situation in a timely manner to the public health nurse, licensed physical therapist, or occupational therapist. Records intake, output, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration after demonstrated competency and as instructed by RN or PT. Agency required documentation completed and submitted in appropriate format within agency documentation guidelines.
• Assists with household duties essential to the patients health care at home, such as changing linen, personal laundry, dusting, vacuuming, washing dishes, shopping and meal preparation. On an infrequent basis, performs above household duties as assigned, as determined by specific care programs reflecting benefits for the patients family members during respite care.
• Attends Conferences, meetings, and in-services: Patient Care Conferences, as appropriate and as required. In-services to update skills and knowledge as mandated by agency policy, state practice acts, and state and federal regulations. Staff meetings.
• Is accountable for whereabouts to supervisor during all work hours.
• Adheres to Quality of Service Behavior Guidelines in all aspects of job. Performs other duties as requested.