Missouri Home Health Aide Programs

New graduates celebrate with their families at their nursing commencement ceremony.

How to Become a Home Health Aide in Missouri and Home Health Aide Programs in Missouri

Home health aides work in the patient's home and provide basic assistance with everyday tasks. If you're interested in learning about how to become a home health aide in Missouri and home health aide programs in Missouri, it's important to understand what a home health aide is responsible for. The tasks that a home health aide performs will vary with each individual client. These aides may help to prepare meals, do housekeeping tasks, run errands, organize and administer prescription medications, and assist the patient with personal hygiene. A home health aide typically works under the supervision of a registered nurse.

There are no formal educational requirements for home health aides in Missouri, but home health aides are required to have a minimum of 75 hours of training and 16 hours of clinical experience. Online learning is available from the National Association for Home Care & Hospice and RCTLEARN.NET. There are also several programs in Missouri that offer certified nurse assistant training which includes all of the skills that a home health aide needs. These programs are available from: * Golden Living Training Center * MCC Blue River * Concorde Career College * MCC Maple Woods * MCC Penn Valley * MCC Longview

Some employers may be willing to provide the home health aide's education and training on the job. The Missouri Alliance for Home Care is a valuable resource for home health aides in the state. This organization holds an annual conference that is a great opportunity for home health aides to connect with others in their field and learn about the latest developments in home care. Regardless of the specific program that is completed, all Missouri home health aides are required to pass the state's home health aide/hospice aide competency evaluation. This includes written questions and clinical demonstrations. This evaluation must be performed by a registered nurse.

The job outlook for home health aides is expected to be excellent in the coming years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job growth of 69 percent over the 2010 to 2020 decade which is much faster than the average for all occupations over this time period. As baby boomers age, there is expected to be an increase in the number of clients who prefer to have personal assistance provided in their home. In Missouri, the annual mean salary for home health aides is $19,780. Those with earnings in the bottom ten percent of the field make less than $16,020 while those with earnings in the top ten percent make over $25,140.

• Missouri Department of Health
• St. Charles County Department of Community Health & the Environment