CNA in a long term care facility or home health- Difference?

Starletta, CNA · Jul 26, 2011

I want to do home health care, or assisted living. I enjoy one on one care with my Residents and found I could not do that due to time restraints in Clinical at a LTC facility. It was rush, rush, rush. And I didn't find any satisfaction in it. Plus, being older, I just couldn't keep up with the physical demands of constantly bending, lifting, etc.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Jul 26, 2011

I work at a nursing home. Before this I worked in "home health" but it was just taking care of a couple people on my own- not through an agency. At my day job the lady did have home health aides from an agency come in every day to help me bathe her and I talked to them a lot about their job.

The nursing home cons:

You are required to work at breakneck speed. Supervisors, etc. are always checking up on you and giving you flack for not being perfect, even though it's impossible, so no matter how hard you work you feel inadequate because of all the nitpicking. Chances are a lot of the people you work with will be lazy or get on your nerves.

Nursing home pros:

You stay very busy, so the day goes by quickly. You can have a lot of fun interacting with the coworkers you like, and if a resident is giving you a hard time or you need help with something, there are always other people around.

Home health cons according to the home health aides I know:

You have to drive around a lot, some of the homes you go to are disgusting, sometimes it's hard to get enough hours, when a client is difficult, there is no one else around to help you or even vent with.

pros:

You work alone so no one is looking over your shoulder finding things to criticize. You have a lot more time to be thorough and connect with the client (our visits were an hour- in the nursing home we spend 10 minutes getting someone dressed in the morning), the hours are more flexible.

tomc5555 · Jul 26, 2011

I chose to work home health to assist people wishing to remain in the home. I am employed through an agency and they pay the payroll taxes, workers comp etc...

I have had had some clients needing a lot of help with ADL's and others needing help after surgery or a hospital admission. Our agency screens what we want as well as the client. I work in non smoking homes, and limit my travel to my county. I am free to refuse a case or not work in homes that are unsafe, unclean etc.

I have had no shortage of work, even though I am a male and most clients are female and want female caregivers.

I am upbeat, caring and communicate well. I am also very respectful and understand my being in the home is intrusive, though necessary. The clients like that and they usually tell my agency they like my work. I make a point to please the agency as well as the client so I continue to get cases.

Ultimately, I want to do hospice as well, but I need HHA cert.

No matter what type of work we do we should always bring joy, humor and light to those we serve. A smile goes a long way.

Good luck.

good luck.

Starletta, CNA · Jul 27, 2011

Thanks Tom, you answered my question. I too would like to do home health care, but will not work in a smoking home, or one that is very unclean.

How many clients do you see a day? Or do you spend all day with the same client? I know you are paid the time you are at the client's home, but what about driving time in between clients? Are you reimbursed for fuel costs, etc.? Thank you.

AzDeb · Jul 27, 2011

I chose to do home health care because being a bit older I was unable to keep up at a LTCF also. It was backbreaking and way to rush rush for me. I love home health care! I started 6 months ago with a husband and wife that I care for. I work with them 30 hours a week. The agency I work for finds clients that fit for you. And I have the right to refuse to work for a client as well. If the agency is good, they want both the CNA and client to be a good fit for one another and to be happy. I also requested to have clients within a certain mile radius of my home so I wouldn't be spending so much on travel. Doing home health care has been the perfect fit for me and I will never go back to LTC.

tomc5555 · Jul 27, 2011

Thanks Tom, you answered my question. I too would like to do home health care, but will not work in a smoking home, or one that is very unclean.
How many clients do you see a day? Or do you spend all day with the same client? I know you are paid the time you are at the client's home, but what about driving time in between clients? Are you reimbursed for fuel costs, etc.? Thank you.

Our agency has a 4 hour minimum and I have seen 2 per day. I got paid mileage between clients, but not to and from. I do get mileage if my car is used for client appt's or errands.

Currently I see one gentleman, 12 hour day shift, Mon--Fri. I am assisting him in a SNF, so he can have one to one care. When he goes home, I will work with him during the day.

I have also provided 'fill in' on days where I have no client.

I like the flexibility of the agency.