The Red Cross offers training for people interested in becoming a home health aide. Depending on the desired training course, students can learn theory alone or both theory and skill.

30-Hour Training Module

This course is for nursing assistants and teaches the theory behind proper home health care at home or in hospice settings. Its focus is on the role and responsibilities of the home health aide.

Requirements

To participate in the 30-hour course, a student must be a certified nurse assistant or have completed the Red Cross Nurse Assistant Program in the past year. You must also pass a TB skin test and a chest X-ray and be in good health.

90-Hour Training

In the more advanced 90-hour course, the student learns both theory and skill, focusing on patient care in the areas of meals, companionship, caregiving, safety and managing a home. This program includes CPR and first aid certification. It prepares students to take the Home Aide Care National Exam.

Requirements

To participate in the 90-hour training course, you must pass a TB skin test and chest X-ray and be in sound physical condition. You must read at a ninth-grade level, and a high school diploma or GED is preferred.