Montana Home Health Aide Programs

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

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

There is a growing need for home health aides in the United States. As baby boomers age, there are increased opportunities for these home care professionals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that job opportunities for home health aides will increase by 69 percent over the 2010 to 2020 decade. If you're interested in learning about how to become a home health aide in Montana and home health aide programs in Montana, you'll be pleased to find that this is career is not difficult to pursue. The main responsibilities of a home health aide relate to everyday tasks such as cleaning, cooking, shopping, and personal hygiene.

Each client's needs are different so it's important that home health aides be flexible. The best aides are those that are patient, friendly, and have strong personal communication skills. Attention to detail and organization are important as well. The state of Montana requires that aides have at least 91 hours of training and 25 hours of clinical practice. Home health aides must complete 75 of these training hours in a certified nursing aide program. Many employers will provide additional training on the job. Online training is available from the National Association for Home Care & Hospice as well as RCTCLEARN.NET.

There are several certified nursing aide programs available in Montana. Providers include but are not limited to: * Valley View Health Care Services * Heart and Hands Training CNA Class * Wibaux County Nursing Home CNA Training Program * Parkview Acres Care and Rehabilitation Nursing Assistant Course * Discovery Care Center Nurse Aide Training Course * Pioneer Medical Center CNA Course * Immanuel Lutheran Home CNA Course Home health aide licensure is available from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Aides will be required to pass a written and clinical examination demonstrating their knowledge of basic health care procedures.

With the right skill set, the opportunities for home health aides are great. It's important that aides strive to continue their education as home health technology is continually changing. Home health aides can work with many different types of clients including the elderly, chronically ill, and disabled. Home health aides often develop strong relationships with their clients and may stay with the same client for years. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean salary for home health aides in Montana was $20,620 as of May, 2011. Those with earnings in the bottom ten percent made less than $16,410 while those in the top ten percent made more than $24,200.

• Montana Department of Health