Health Care Aide (HCA)

Your Health Team

A Health Care Aide (HCA) provides direct care, personal assistance and support to patients who are ill, elderly or disabled. They assist patients with activities such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting. They may help with feeding or exercise and in some settings help patients take their medications. Health Care Aides are also known as nursing attendants, home support aides, home support workers or residential support workers.

What Do Health Care Aides Do?

  • Assist with bathing, grooming, dressing and other personal hygiene activities
  • Assist with feeding patients
  • Assist with bed transfers, lifting, turning and walking
  • Assist with range of motion exercises
  • Assist with simple wound care, respiratory equipment use or urinary care
  • Report on patient condition to the nurse
  • Assist patients to take their medications
  • Communicate with patients

Where Do Health Care Aides Work?

  • Long-term care facilities
  • Hospital or health care centre
  • Home care
  • Community

Health Care Aides at AHS

There are 6800 Health Care Aides employed by Alberta Health Services.

What Are the Credentials for a Health Care Aide?

  • Health Care Aides at AHS are required to have a Health Care Aide certificate or substantial equivalent

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