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Western MA Fast Facts

Education Requirements: No Formal Education

Hampden County:

  • Number of Workers: 16,090
  • Entry Wage: $17.25/hour
  • Experienced Wage: $18.37/hour

Franklin/Hampshire Counties

  • Number of Workers: 4,390
  • Entry Wage: $17.45/hour
  • Experienced Wage: $19.50/hour

Occupational Employment and Wages Statistics, May 2025, EOLWD

Home Health Aide

Home health aides help people with their daily living activities in the person's own home, or sometimes in a residential facility.

🏠 Home Health Aides

Overview

Home health aides are in high demand in Western Massachusetts as more people with disabilities—such as chronic or mental illness—and older adults choose to age in place. These individuals often require assistance to continue living independently in their own homes.

Home health aides (HHAs) support individuals with daily living activities, either in their private homes or sometimes in residential care settings. They help clients stay safe, healthy, and independent, offering both physical care and emotional support.

🩺 What HHAs Do

Home health aides typically:

  • Assist clients with personal hygiene tasks such as bathing, toileting, grooming, dressing, and feeding
  • Support clients with mobility including transfers from beds to chairs and walking assistance
  • Perform routine housekeeping tasks, including cooking, laundry, cleaning, and errands
  • Observe and report changes in a client’s condition to supervising healthcare professionals
  • Work under the supervision of a registered nurse or other medical personnel

đź’Ľ Where HHAs Work

Home health aides can work in:

  • Private homes
  • Home healthcare agencies
  • Assisted living facilities
  • Hospice care
  • Community health organizations

🎓 Education and Training Requirements

  • A high school diploma or GED is often required
  • Completion of a state-approved certificate training program
  • Certification exam may be required depending on the employer
  • Many Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) programs include HHA training

đź§  Skills and Qualities for Success

Successful HHAs typically have:

  • Strong communication skills to interact effectively with clients and families
  • Empathy and patience, especially when working with older adults or individuals with complex health needs
  • Reliability and attention to detail for tracking schedules and medication reminders
  • Physical stamina for lifting, moving clients, and performing housekeeping duties
  • Knowledge of patient privacy laws, including HIPAA
  • Understanding of basic nutrition and infection control
  • Reliable transportation to travel between clients’ homes

đźš— Travel Requirements

  • Home health aides may be assigned to multiple clients in one day
  • Reliable personal or public transportation is essential
  • Schedules often require travel throughout the community

đź”— Professional Resources

  • Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)
  • National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC)
  • Home Care Aide Council of Massachusetts
  • PHI National (Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute)

đź”— Professional Resources

🔄 Related Career Pathways

Careers that build on the skills of a home health aide include:

Updated: June 4, 2025

MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board

1441 Main Street, First Floor
Springfield, MA 01103
413-233-9856

The MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities, Verizon Telephone Relay Service: TDD/TTY: 1-800-439-2370 Voice: 1-800-439-0183