Home Health Aide Training in New York

The State of New York has specific requirements to become a Home Health Aide, which are similar to, but in many cases go beyond the federal requirements.  In New York all Home Health Aides mustsuccessfully complete a training and competency evaluation program or a competency program conducted by an approved home health aide training program (regardless of whether the employer is receiving Medicare funding). New York defines,in law, the activities a Home Health Aide is allowed to do, and those that they are not.  Allowable health related activities include:

1. Preparation of meals in accordance with modified diets or complex modified diets;
2. Administration of medications;
3. Provision of special skin care;
4. Use of medical equipment, supplies and devices;
5. Change of dressing to stable surface wounds;
6. Performance of simple measurements and tests to routinely monitor the patient’s medical condition;
7. Performance of a maintenance exercise program; and
8. Care of an ostomy after the ostomy has achieved its normal function

Training programs and evaluations are expected to cover these areas. Training requirementsNew York’s training requirements are similar to the Federal standard– 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training.  An additional requirement is that, at a minimum, fifty percent (50%) of each aide’s supervised practical training must be provided in a patient care setting. The curriculum must include the content outlined below:

1. Orientation to home care and the role of home health aides
2. Understanding basic human needs of individuals and families including understanding the elderly, infants and children, persons with physical illnesses, persons with physical disabilities and persons with mental disabilities
3. Communication skills
4. Basic elements of body function
5. Patient rights and HIV confidentiality
6. Safety, accident prevention and responses to emergencies
7. Infection control and universal blood and body fluid precautions
8. Personal hygiene and grooming including bed, sponge, tub or shower baths; skin, tub or bed shampoos; nail and skin care; oral hygiene; toileting and elimination
9. Use of prescribed medical equipment and supplies
10. Rehabilitation including safe transfer techniques and ambulation; normal range of motion and positioning; assistance with use of crutches, walkers, and hoyer lifts; and prescribed exercise programs
11. Nutrition and fluid intake, to include preparation of meals for simple and complex modified diets
12. Temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure
13. Simple test and measurements
14. Maintaining a clean, safe environment
15. Assistance with medication administration
16. Special skin care
17. Simple dressing changes
18. Ostomy care
19. Handling patient’s money, and
20. Observing, reporting, and recording

EvaluationAfter training, a candidates ability must be evaluated by a registered nurse using the following methods:

• a written and/or oral examination that demonstrates the aide’s knowledge of the information presented in the classroom training, and
• observation and demonstration by the aide of his/her competency in performing skills in the laboratory or patient care setting.

The tasks associated with personal hygiene, rehabilitation and vital signs (subject areas #8, #10 and #12 in the list above) are evaluated after the supervised practical training. Personal Aides, Nurse Aides and Home Health Aides New York is very clear definitions for each of these job descriptions, and specific training requirements for each.

Tagged as: Certification Requirements