The primary function of the Home Care Aide is to assist individuals with personal care and activities of daily living including bathing, feeding, grooming, dressing, mouth care, shampoo, shaving, nail care, ambulation, exercises under the supervision of a nurse or therapist, medication reminders, meal preparation, personal laundry and light housekeeping on behalf of an individual patient.

The Home Care Aide works as a member of a team of professional personnel in provision of nursing, rehabilitation, nutrition, and other therapeutic services to patients in their homes.

All Home Care Aides are certified, through special training, testing and skills assessment, which are mandated by the federal government, as part of Medicare/Medicaid regulations. In addition, all Home Care Aides complete a minimum of 12 hours annually of in-service education, related to aspects of the care they provide to patients.

All Home Care Aides serving New Century Homecare patients have been interviewed and screened – including a check of CORI – prior to hire, and they are oriented and regularly supervised by the clinical nursing and rehabilitation staff. In addition, annual performance appraisal is standard practice.

Some of the home care aides serving New Century Homecare patients also have special training in care of patients who have Alzheimer’s disease and in special care of patients undergoing rehabilitation (physical, occupational and speech therapy) at home. In addition, aides are also trained to work with patients who are on monitor care, through the Natick VNA’s “Home Telemonitoring Program.”