Home health aides help people stay safe and comfortable at home. Your resume should show careful personal care, clear notes and dependable visits, with numbers that prove it.
This page shows what a home health aide does and gives 20 duties you can turn into resume bullets. Use the free builder to write your own experience section, then print it or copy it.
AdvertisementAll sample bullets use example numbers. Replace them with your own true numbers, and use only duties you really did.
What a Home Health Aide Does
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says home health aides help clients with daily activities such as bathing and dressing, and may take on some basic health tasks, such as checking vital signs, depending on state rules. Many aides work alone in a client’s home as part of a care team and report changes in a client’s condition to the nurse, family and other providers.
Aides in certified home health or hospice agencies must complete formal training and pass a standardized test, and some states require a license or certification.
20 Home Health Aide Duties You Can Turn Into Resume Bullets
Quick jump: Personal careMobility and safetyMonitoring and reportingHome and companionship
Personal Care Duties
Helped 6 clients a week with bathing, grooming and dressing while respecting their privacy.
2. Assist with toileting and incontinence care
Provided toileting and incontinence care for 4 clients a week with respect and dignity.
3. Help clients dress and change clothing
Helped clients choose and put on clothing for the day, up to 30 times a week.
4. Help clients eat and drink
Prepared about 15 meals a week and helped 6 clients eat and drink, and recorded what they ate.
5. Keep clients comfortable and clean
Changed bed linens and kept each client’s space clean on all 25 visits a week.
Mobility and Safety Duties
Used safe transfer and walking methods with 5 clients, with no falls on my visits.
7. Use equipment such as walkers and lifts
Set up and used walkers, wheelchairs and lifts for 5 clients as the care plan directed.
8. Reduce fall and safety risks at home
Cleared trip hazards in 6 homes and reported safety concerns to the nurse.
9. Follow infection control steps
Followed infection control steps, including handwashing and gloves, on every one of about 50 client visits a month.
10. Respond to emergencies
Followed the agency emergency plan and care plan on 2 urgent client situations and called for help quickly.
Health Monitoring and Reporting Duties
Gave medication reminders from the care plan and logged each one, about 60 a week.
12. Check vital signs when allowed
Checked and recorded vital signs for 6 clients a week where state rules allowed and reported changes to the nurse.
13. Observe and report changes in condition
Reported about 4 changes a week in mood, skin or eating to the nurse the same day.
14. Write clear visit notes
Wrote visit notes within 1 hour of each shift with 0 missed entries in 12 months over 12 months.
15. Follow the care plan
Followed each client’s care plan on about 25 visits a week and checked with the nurse on any unclear step.
Home and Companionship Duties
Planned and cooked meals for special diets for 3 clients and tracked fluids.
17. Do light housekeeping and laundry
Did light housekeeping and about 3 loads of laundry a week for each of 6 homes and kept them tidy and safe.
18. Offer companionship
Spent about 30 minutes a visit talking, walking and doing activities with 6 clients, which helped them feel less alone.
19. Run errands and drive to appointments
Ran errands and drove clients to about 10 medical appointments a month.
20. Communicate with families and the care team
Updated families and the nurse after about 25 visits a week with clear, kind information.
Free Home Health Aide Experience Builder
Step 1. What is your job level?
Step 2. Where did you work?
Step 3. Tap the duties you really did. Five bullets is plenty.
Step 4. Click any text in the box and type to make it yours.
Replace the job title, employer, city, dates and every number with your own true details. Remove any bullet you cannot explain in an interview.
Experience
Home Health Aide (Part Time) | 2025 to present
Home Health Aide | 2022 to present
Senior Home Health Aide | 2018 to present
Marlowe Glen Home Care, Columbus, OH
Tansy Hollow Hospice, Columbus, OH
Corrigan Pike Family Care, Columbus, OH
- Helped 6 clients a week with bathing, grooming and dressing with respect for privacy
- Provided toileting and incontinence care for 4 clients a week with dignity
- Prepared about 15 meals a week for special diets and recorded what clients ate
- Used safe transfer and walking methods with 5 clients, with no falls on my visits
- Gave medication reminders from the care plan and logged about 60 a week
- Checked and recorded vital signs for 6 clients a week where state rules allowed
- Wrote visit notes within 1 hour of each shift with 0 missed entries in 12 months
- Reported about 4 changes a week in mood, skin or eating to the nurse the same day
- Did light housekeeping and laundry for 6 homes each week
- Spent about 30 minutes a visit talking, walking and doing activities with 6 clients
- Drove clients to about 10 medical appointments a month
- Updated families and the nurse after about 25 visits a week
To save your experience section: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the box prints. To copy it, select the text inside the box and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
How to Use a Job Description on Your Resume
- Read the posting. Mark the duties it repeats.
- Pick your matching duties. Choose only the ones you really did.
- Match the posting’s keywords. Use its exact tool and duty words when they are true for you.
- Start with an action verb. Strong verbs make each bullet clear.
- Add a number or result. Count people, tasks, items or shifts.
- Put the best match first. Keep five or six bullets for each job.
Action Verbs for Home Health Aide Duties
| Duty | Action verbs to use |
|---|---|
| Personal care | Assisted, bathed, groomed, dressed, supported |
| Mobility | Transferred, walked, lifted, repositioned, guided |
| Monitoring | Recorded, observed, reported, documented, checked |
| Home care | Prepared, cleaned, organized, cooked, shopped |
| Communication | Updated, informed, explained, listened, encouraged |
| Teamwork | Coordinated, collaborated, supported, trained, followed |
Home Health Aide Skills for a Resume
| Type | Skills for a home health aide resume |
|---|---|
| Care skills | Personal care, safe transfers, meal preparation, medication reminders |
| Health skills | Vital signs where allowed, observation, reporting changes, infection control |
| People skills | Compassion, patience, communication, companionship, respect for privacy |
| Home skills | Light housekeeping, laundry, errands, safety checks |
| Work habits | Reliability, honesty, physical stamina, attention to detail |
ATS-Friendly Keywords for a Home Health Aide Resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) store resumes and let recruiters search them by words. Use the exact words from the job posting when they are true for you. The terms below come from the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET OnLine list for Home Health Aides and from words often seen in postings.
| Keyword type | Terms to use when they are true for you |
|---|---|
| Skills | Active listening, critical thinking, monitoring, service orientation, social perceptiveness, time management |
| Tools and systems | MEDITECH, Mi-Forms reporting software, scheduling and email software |
| Duty phrases | Keep records of client progress and services; report changes in condition; give bedside and personal care; check vital signs under nurse direction; take part in case reviews; advise on household cleanliness, nutrition and hygiene |
| Knowledge areas | English language, customer and personal service, education and training, psychology |
| Common in postings | Care plan, activities of daily living (ADLs), meal preparation, light housekeeping, CPR, client safety |
- Put keywords in your bullets. Use them in your experience and Skills sections, not in hidden text.
- Spell out short forms once. Write out activities of daily living (ADLs) or electronic visit verification (EVV) the first time, then use the short form.
- Match the posting. Copy the exact tool and duty words from the job ad, but only if you really used them.
Source: O*NET OnLine, 31-1121.00 Home Health Aides.
Home Health Aide Job Facts
| Fact (BLS, home health and personal care aides) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay (May 2025) | $35,800 a year ($17.21 an hour) |
| Lowest 10% earned less than | $27,040 a year |
| Highest 10% earned more than | $45,040 a year |
| Job outlook, 2025 to 2035 | Growth of 18% |
| Openings each year, on average | About 760,500 |
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training | Short-term on-the-job training; some states require a license or certification |
These are national figures, and pay varies by employer, state and local rules.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Copying a job ad. Write your own bullets from your own work.
- Listing duties only. Add a number or a result to each bullet.
- Listing too many duties. Choose the five or six that match the job.
- Using vague words. Replace helped with a clear verb and a count.
- Making up numbers. Use only numbers you can explain in an interview.
- Typos. Proofread your resume twice before you send it.
Resume Bullet Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. You are ready to use your bullets when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn a job description into resume bullets?
Pick the duties you really did. Start each bullet with an action verb, name the task and add a number or result.
Should I copy a job description onto my resume?
No. Use it as a guide for words and ideas, then write your own true bullets. Employers want to see what you did and what happened as a result.
What qualifications do I need to become a home health aide?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says a high school diploma or equivalent is typical, though some positions do not require a formal credential. Aides in certified home health or hospice agencies must complete formal training and pass a standardized test, and some states require a license or certification. Check your state’s rules.
What are the primary duties of a home health aide?
Personal care such as bathing and dressing, health monitoring and reporting, medication reminders where allowed, light housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship and keeping the home safe. BLS says home health aides may also take on some basic health tasks, such as checking vital signs, depending on state rules.
Can I work as a home health aide without prior experience?
Yes, many employers hire entry-level aides and provide training. Family caregiving, volunteering and a completed training program all help. BLS describes the job as short-term on-the-job training for most aides.
What is the average salary for a home health aide?
BLS reports a median pay of $35,800 a year, or $17.21 an hour, for home health and personal care aides in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,040 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $45,040. Pay varies by state, employer and experience.
What hours do home health aides usually work, and can I work part-time?
BLS says most aides work full time, although part-time work is common. Aides may work evenings and weekends, and schedules may vary by client.
Is home health aide work physically demanding?
Yes. BLS says the work can be physically and emotionally demanding, and aides must use proper lifting techniques to avoid back injury. They also face risks from minor infections and communicable diseases, so training in safe lifting and infection control matters.
What qualities make a good home health aide?
BLS lists detail orientation, emotional skills, integrity, interpersonal skills and physical stamina. Patience, dependability and respect for clients’ privacy and routines also matter.
Are there continuing education requirements?
For aides in Medicare-certified home health agencies, federal rules require at least 12 hours of in-service training during each 12-month period (42 CFR 484.80). Your state or employer may require more.
Conclusion
A job description is a good guide, but your resume needs your own proof. Pick the duties you really did, add numbers and results, and put the best matches first. Then use the builder above to write yours.
Related Reading
- Home health aide salary and pay rate in different states
- Top 10 home health aide resume summary examples
- Personal care aide job description
- Home health care aide cover letter sample
- Home health aide skills for resume
- Top 10 home health aide resume objective examples
- Cost of live-in home health aides
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Home Health and Personal Care Aides (May 2025 wages; 2025 employment shares; 2025 to 2035 outlook); 42 CFR 484.80 (home health aide services). Sample bullets, numbers and employer names are fictional examples. Rules and pay vary by state and employer.