Home healthcare aides are the frontline when it comes to helping seniors and other people with disabilities live in their homes and stay independent for as long as possible. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, home health aide is one of the fastest growing occupations. The demand for qualified healthcare workers in general is expected to grow by 18% by 2022, which is much faster than average. Home healthcare aides provide support, monitoring, and assistance to elderly or disabled adults who need help but not full-time nursing care. Becoming a home health aide is a great way to have a stable job while also working towards your future career as an RN or another type of medical professional. Read on to learn how you can begin a rewarding career as a freelance home healthcare aide.
What Does a Home Healthcare Aide Do?
Home health aides help people with disabilities or elderly who are living at home remain as independent as possible. They are sometimes called home health care providers, home health care nurses, or home health assistants. As a home health aide, you’ll provide support and assistance with everyday living tasks that allow your patients to live in the comfort of their own homes as long as possible. Home health aides are often hired for private duty because they work for the patient instead of for an agency. This means they can work flexible hours, make their own schedule, and have the freedom to choose which patients they want to work with. You’ll often have one or two patients per day, and they can be of any age or have any type of disability.
How to Become a Freelance Home Healthcare Aide
Home health aides can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, private homes, and people’s own homes. If you want to work as a freelance home health aide, then you may need to network a little to find your first client. Some agencies may also hire you on a freelance basis if you’re just beginning to work as an independent aide. In order to become a freelance aide, you’ll need to be CPR certified and have your Immunizations up to date. You’ll also need a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to get to and from your patients’ homes. You’ll need to have your own health insurance, and you’ll also have to pass a background check.
Things to Know Before Becoming a Freelance Aide
Before you start working as a freelance home health aide, make sure you know what the job entails and what it takes to be successful in the field. Hours and Pay: Your work hours will depend on what treatment your patients need. Some aides work full-time, while others work part-time. You’ll likely only be able to work during daytime hours because your patients need to be monitored at night. You’ll likely make between $10-$17 per hour as a freelance aide, but you could also make more if you work for an agency. Education Requirements: You don’t need to graduate from nursing school to work as a home health aide. In fact, many agencies and clients prefer to hire aides who are still in school. If you’re just entering the field, you’ll need to complete a one-year training program. Some schools also offer online courses that you can take while working.
3 Steps to Become a Freelance Aide
If you’re interested in becoming a home health aide, you may want to start networking now to find clients and get hired. Here are 3 steps to become a freelance home health aide. Apply to Home Health Aide Programs – Most education programs will provide you with the training you need to become a home health aide, but you can also find some great resources online as well. You can also find programs that offer certification rather than a degree. – You can then start applying for jobs and network with other aides in your area if you want to work independently. Make sure to put your certification or education on your resume. Join Home Health Agencies – Some agencies hire aides to work for the company rather than work independently. You can find job listings at state agencies or on sites like Indeed, Monster, or Craigslist. You can also join agencies like Visiting Angels or Live-in Caregivers as a home health aide. – Working as an agency aide allows you to have more benefits and also find more hours of work. You may also have access to training and career advancement opportunities.
Conclusion
Home health aides provide crucial support and assistance to people with disabilities and elderly people who need help living on their own. Many aides also offer companionship and mental stimulation to their patients. Becoming a freelance home health aide is a great way to enter the field and work towards your goal of becoming a registered nurse. You can apply to home health aide programs or join agencies to get started, and you can also network with other healthcare professionals to find the patients you need to build your client base.