The Role of a Nursing Assistant in Home Care

How do nursing assistants help patients in home care?

Nursing assistants (also referred to as aides, CNAs or STNAs) are an essential part of an in-home care team. Working with other providers from the home care agency, nursing assistants deliver important services and care that help patients maintain safety and independence at home.

What does a nursing assistant do?

Nursing assistants at Elara Caring provide home care services to patients wherever they call home. They visit patients and help them with essential activities of daily living and health care tasks. Nursing aides often spend a lot of time with their patients, frequently observing their health status and reporting changes to their team for a timely intervention if necessary.

What are common nursing assistant duties?

Home health care nursing assistants perform a variety of duties, depending on the patient’s individual care plan and the type of in-home care they are receiving, such as skilled home health or in home hospice care. Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Assisting with bathing, grooming and dressing
• Helping patients with eating and drinking
• Turning, positioning and transferring patients to their bed, wheelchair, etc.
• Monitoring patients’ physical and mental condition
• Providing companionship
• Maintaining a healthy, safe environment in the patients’ homes
• Assisting with use of medical equipment like lift chairs, portable toilets, etc.

What are the skills of a nursing assistant?

Nursing assistants are:

• Compassionate, kind and have a positive attitude
• Strong communicators and listeners
• Dedicated to quality patient care
• Able to bend, stand and lift, as needed
• Effective problem-solvers
• Organized and skilled in time management

Nursing assistants may need to meet certain training and/or certification requirements, depending on their state’s or organization’s policies.

How do I learn more about home health aide or nursing assistant jobs at Elara Caring?

It’s easy to find a home care job that’s right for you at Elara Caring. You can view open positions and apply online anytime. Questions? Email us at recruiting@elara.com or visit our site to learn more about caregiving jobs.

How do I get nursing assistant services for my loved one?

Find the Elara Caring home care location near you and give us a call to discuss care options.