Trade Schools
Home Health Aides are integral components of America’s allied healthcare system.
These home-based care providers work in private homes and residences to provide hands-on care, support, and companionship for homebound patients healing from injuries, and accidents, and elderly patients needing assistance with daily living skills.
The role of today’s Home Health Aide is multifaceted and challenging.
It requires mental and physical skills to provide top-notch patient care services.
Home Health Aides seeking to transition or uplevel their existing skills into a new career can learn about a few of the top alternative careers for Home Health Aides in the comparative career guide below.
6 Alternative Careers for Home Health Aides
If you’re seeking an alternative career as a Home Health Aide, there are a variety of careers available that are in high demand across America’s healthcare industries.
Today’s Home Health Aides can use many of their existing skills along with short periods of formal education, training, or earning certification to begin working in one of the top alternative careers below.
The following careers represent some of the top alternative options for working Home Health Aides considering changing careers.
1. Certified Nursing Assistant
Home Health Aides seeking to use their transferable skills in a similar role can consider becoming Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).
CNAs work in private homes, healthcare facilities, hospitals, and long-term care facilities to provide direct patient care and support for daily living activities.
Job Description
Certified Nursing Assistants support their patients by helping them with bathing, grooming, medication management, mobility, and providing companionship for ailing, injured, and recovering patients.
CNAs work in a variety of public and private healthcare settings providing hands-on medical support for their patients.
Transferable Skills
The roles of a Home Health Aide and CNA overlap in the areas of assisting with everyday living activities, patient communication, organizational skills, personal care skills, providing companionship, and problem-solving skills.
Potential Requirements
Formal training and education requirements for becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant are similar to those required for becoming a Home Health Aide.
CNA candidates will need to have proof of completing their high school education along with earning required or preferred CNA certifications for providing hands-on patient care.
Benefits
Home Health Aides who become CNAs have an increased sense of job stability as both careers are in extremely high demand.
Transitioning HHAs open themselves up to a variety of new work environments outside of patient homes.
Working as a CNA can provide a stepping-stone for future career advancements in nursing.
2. Medical Assistant
HHAs seeking to transition into a career involving less direct patient care and more administrative tasks can take on the admin-based role of a Medical Assistant.
Medical Assistants work at front desks and behind the scenes in private practice offices, medical clinics, and emergency care facilities.
Job Description
Well-trained Medical Assistants work in a variety of clinical settings carrying out crucial administrative tasks.
Medical Assistants manage patient records, accounts, and billing systems using the latest health information technology and software.
Their efforts support healthcare officials who need to reference patient records to provide life-saving care and medical support.
Transferable Skills
The shared skills between Home Health Aides and Medical Assistants include attention to detail, organizational skills, patient records management, communication skills, and knowledge of patient care techniques.
Potential Requirements
Aspiring Medical Assistants may be required to gain formal education that can include diplomas, associate degrees, or industry-related certifications that demonstrate their competence in the field.
Benefits
The benefits of working as a medical assistant and a former home health aide include more flexible work environments, opportunities for remote work, advancement opportunities, and specialization opportunities for assistants who want to continue to advance their careers.
3. Physical Therapy Aide
Physical Therapy Aides are hands-on allied healthcare professionals who help injured patients recover, regain, and improve their mobility after experiencing accidents, injuries, or physical declines related to chronic medical conditions.
Job Description
Occupational Therapists rely on the skills of Physical Therapy Aides to provide mobility support, administrative support, and recording patient records and progress as it relates to their treatment plans and goals.
Transferable Skills
Knowledge of direct patient care, medical terminology, managing patient records, providing safe and clean therapeutic environments for healing, and following therapy plans are just a few of the transferable skills an HHA brings to the physical therapy table.
Potential Requirements
HHAs interested in becoming Physical Therapy Aides should be prepared to show proof of high school education and to get formal education, training, and credentials for practicing PTAs.
Benefits
The benefits of Home Health Aides changing careers and becoming Physical Therapy Aides include unlimited opportunities for career advancement with formal education, higher paying salaries, and working in a highly respected career role supporting Occupational Therapists and injured patient recovery.
4. Patient Care Coordinator
Today’s Patient Care Coordinators act as the bridge between patients in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient care facilities and their families.
They work with facilities and patients to coordinate care and treatment plans according to a prescribed therapy schedule written by doctors, nurses, and medical specialists.
Job Description
PCCs schedule patient appointments, follow-ups, and specialist referrals.
They also work with different healthcare departments and teams to ensure a seamless continuity of care for the patients and healthcare facilities they serve.
Transferable Skills
Former Home Health Aides deciding to become PCCs bring knowledge of patient care techniques, patient records management, communication, medical appointment setting, and coordinating care as transferable skills.
Potential Requirements
Requirements to become a Patient Care Coordinator include completing your high school education, meeting age requirements, experience requirements, and formal education requirements which can include an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Benefits
Working as a Patient Care Coordinator is an expansive role that affords former Home Health Aides more freedom and flexibility in making crucial healthcare-related and administrative decisions for the patients, families, and facilities they engage with.
PCCs can make high-paying salaries when they earn degrees, credentials, and desired industry certifications.
5. Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists are administrative medical professionals who help ensure accurate filing of insurance claims, billing, and payments for healthcare services.
Job Description
Today’s Medical Coding Specialists use industry-approved codes International Classification of Diseases Codes (ICD-10) and complex billing procedures to translate medical procedures, diagnoses, and treatments into billable formats that can be read and processed by insurance companies and private payers.
Transferable Skills
Familiarity with medical codes, patient records management, and organizational skills represent transferable skills that Home Health Aides can easily transfer and apply to the role of Medical Billing and Coding Specialists.
Potential Requirements
Home Health Aides preparing to become Medical Billers or Coders should be prepared to complete short formal training or certification courses to become familiar with standard industry practices and procedures.
Benefits
Independent Medical Billers have unlimited earnings potential when they choose their clients and bill at their preferred rate.
Transitioning Medical Billers have opportunities to work from home or to seek remote employment with high-paying or volume employers.
6. Hospice Aide
Hospice Aides are end-of-life medical care professionals who support the needs of patients and families living in hospice care facilities.
Today’s Hospice professionals work in Hospice facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and private homes as the end-of-life liaisons.
Job Description
Hospice workers specialize in providing empathy, compassion, and medical support for the patients and their loved ones spending their final days in their care.
Healthcare liaisons use their physical stamina to provide mobility support and personal care tasks for their patients while monitoring the progress of their conditions.
Transferable Skills
Career-changing Home Health Aides can transfer existing skills which include compassionate care, support with daily living activities, communicating with patient families, and providing hands-on support directly to the role of Hospice Aide.
These compassionate care professionals provide life-ending support services for patients and families that make their transitions easier.
Potential Requirements
Home Health Aides may be able to directly apply their on-the-job experience and related credentials to the role of Hospice Aide as these roles share many similar formal educational and credentialing requirements.
Incoming HAs may be required to participate in short training sessions to learn role-specific skills and practice to demonstrate competency.
Benefits
Hospice Aides are an integral part of facilities providing compassionate end-of-life services.
Supportive aides can make all the difference in the final moments of patients and families as their role is one of the most important in a long line of medical and allied health professionals.
Tips for Transitioning Careers as a Home Health Aide
- Use some of the following tips to prepare for a smoother career transition as a career-changing Home Health Aide.
- Career switchers should be prepared to uplevel their careers and potentially boost their salary by earning industry certifications and recommended credentials.
- Update your resume and prepare for interviews by researching the desired role and learning as much as possible about open job opportunities.
- Take advantage of networking opportunities and employer-sponsored training programs to help you easily transition into your desired role.
- Consider taking on freelance opportunities to gain experience and clients in the role while earning in your new position.
Conclusion
Home Health Aides seeking to begin new careers in allied healthcare and related roles have a highly sought-after skill set that makes it easy for them to choose from the top alternative careers listed above and beyond.
Career switchers who are serious about making the transition into a new role should research their desired career to learn about salary expectations, job duties, industry certifications, and formal education requirements as their next steps in the process.
Sources
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides-and-personal-care-aides.htm
