As the United States deals with an aging populace, the demand for careers in home care and hospice will increase to keep up. According to the National Association for Home Care and Hospice:
- In 2016, home care providers traveled 7.6 billion miles to deliver services.
- Home care is the preferred method of health care delivery; up to ninety percent of Americans want to age in place.
- Annually, home care provides high-quality, compassionate care to more than 5 million Americans.
The levels of education needed to work in home care and hospice vary, from certificate programs to multiple years of higher education. If you have a compassionate nature, an affinity for seniors, and seek a career that will be high in demand, home care or hospice may be a perfect fit for you.
Occupations in Home Care and Hospice
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Nurses and nursing aides: Registered nurses in home care can serve as case managers and patient advocates. Nurses travel to the home to evaluate a patient’s needs, develop a plan of care, and coordinate with other healthcare professionals for additional therapy and personal care services. Registered nurses take care of clinical needs, while nurse aides, or CNAs, help monitor patients, maintain records, and dispense basic treatment.
Rehabilitation Therapy: Therapists provide care to relieve patients’ pain and make them feel comfortable. Occupational therapists assist patients to have them engage in every day activities, such as eating, while physical therapists assist with mobility and strength.
Certified Home Health Aides: Home health aides bridge patient needs between skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services. They help bathe and feed patients, provide light housekeeping duties, measure and record vital signs, and help with transfers in and out of bed. They assist with the hands-on personal care needs and activities of daily living.
Social Work Services: Licensed medical social workers can provide information and community resources for patients and family members. Social work services can encompass long-term planning and financial concerns.
Dietician: Nutritional therapists and dieticians can help patients meet their unique nutritional needs through meal-planning, shopping, and food preparation.
Pocket Nurse carries a range of solutions for teaching patient care, as well as a DVD entitled See Me that focuses on the unique needs of the senior generation.
Hospice Careers, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Home Healthcare FAQs, Visting Nurse
Home Care and Hospice Month
