Home Health Aide/CNA

CAREGIVER JOB DESCRIPTION Position Overview: Non-Medical CareRole Summary: This is a non-medical position. Caregivers provide essential assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and companion services to ensure clients remain safe and independent at home.Plan of Care Compliance: You are strictly required to follow the written Plan of Care developed by the clinical team. You cannot change the care plan yourself; any requested or necessary changes must be authorized and performed by an RN Supervisor or Office Supervisor.Prohibited Medical Tasks: As a non-medical caregiver, you are strictly prohibited from performing skilled nursing tasks. This includes, but is not limited to:Administering injections or managing IV lines.Performing sterile wound care or changing sterile dressings.Cutting fingernails or toenails, especially for diabetic clients (filing only is permitted).Performing any invasive medical procedures.Emergency Protocol: In the event of a life-threatening medical emergency (e.g., the client is unresponsive, has chest pain, or shows signs of a stroke), you must always call 911 immediately before contacting the office or family.Alzheimer's and Dementia Care RequirementsSpecialized Communication: Must be able to interact with memory-impaired clients using patience, calm, and simple directions.Behavior Management: Must be able to recognize and manage behaviors common to dementia, such as rocking, mumbling, or agitation, without the use of physical or chemical restraints.Validation and Redirection: Ability to use validation therapy rather than arguing with the client's reality to reduce distress and prevent escalations.Safety Supervision: Provide proactive supervision to prevent "elopement" (wandering) and identify environmental hazards that may confuse or endanger the client.Responsibilities and ActivitiesPersonal and Total Care SupportProvide assistance to clients requiring total care, including those who are completely dependent or bedbound.Assist with non-medical ADLs: Bathing, electric shaving, mouth care, dressing, hair care, and feeding.Perform total incontinence care, positioning, and medication reminding.Measure and record Vital Signs (Temperature, Pulse, Respiration, Blood Pressure) and report "out of range" numbers to the supervisor immediately.Provide skin care with lotions as noted and assist with transferring and range of motion exercises.Durable Medical Equipment (DME) & SafetyCompetently assist clients with the use of Durable Medical Equipment (DME), such as hospital beds, walkers, wheelchairs, and mechanical lifts.Adhere to fire safety protocols for clients using oxygen, including enforcing "No Smoking" rules near tanks and keeping equipment upright.In the event of a client fall, utilize the "Assist to Floor" technique to guide the patient safely to the floor to minimize impact; never attempt to lift a fallen patient alone.Infection ControlObserve "Standard Precautions" by treating all human blood and body fluids as if they are infectious.Perform thorough hand washing for a minimum of 15 seconds before and after every client contact and after removing gloves.Utilize proper "Bag Technique" to prevent carrying germs between homes; never place the nursing bag on the floor.Administrative and Reporting DutiesIdentification: You must ALWAYS wear your company ID badge while on duty to ensure the client and family can properly identify you as a staff member.Clocking In/Out: Accurately record and report direct hours of service by clocking in and out for every shift as required by agency policy.Workplace Injuries: You must immediately report any injury sustained by you while on the job to your supervisor to ensure proper medical follow-up and documentation.Incident and Hazard Reporting: Report all client incidents, unusual occurrences, or medical device malfunctions to the supervisor immediately.Qualifications and Essential Physical RequirementsCertification: Must be a Certified Home Health Aide (HHA).Communication: Ability to read, write, and speak English clearly.Physical Readiness: Employees must be in good health and possess the functional capacity to perform strenuous tasks, including standing, walking, reaching, and lifting/moving patients.Essential Functions: Applicants must be able to perform these duties, with or without reasonable accommodation. This requires the absence of physical limitations or prior injuries that would jeopardize their safety or the safety of the client during transfers, total care maneuvers, or emergency responses.Mental Stability: Ability to handle high-stress situations, manage caregiver stress, and remain calm during emergencies or client behavior changes.