How to hire a home health attendant

How to hire a home health attendant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step home health attendant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a home health attendant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new home health attendant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The home health attendant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A home health attendant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, home health attendants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of home health attendants.

   Type of Home Health Attendant	Description	Hourly rate
   Home Health Attendant	Home health aides help people with disabilities, chronic illness, or cognitive impairment with activities of daily living. They often help older adults who need assistance... Show more	$12-33
   Provider	Health care providers are health professionals and health organizations offering health care treatment and diagnosis services. These professionals play significant roles with patients through consultation, treatment, and advice... Show more	$17-50
   Care Provider	A care provider is responsible for assisting patients with their healthcare needs at the highest quality service. Care providers work in various medical organizations or are privately employed by a household... Show more	$8-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Home Health
   • Patients
   • Companionship
   • Patient Care
   • Mental Health
   • Laundry Services
   • Medical Appointments
   • Meal Preparation
   • Vital Signs
   • Bed Linens
   • Health Care Services
   • Blood Pressure
   • Emotional Support
   • Care Plan

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Participate in treatment team and planning meetings to ensure clients receive medically necessary services within Medicaid guidelines.
   • Present peer to peer health education and provide administrative support to student health center including filing medical records using HIPPA compliant procedures

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your home health attendant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A home health attendant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, home health attendants' average salary in alabama is 62% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level home health attendants 64% less than senior-level home health attendants.
   • Certifications. A home health attendant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a home health attendant's salary.

   Average home health attendant salary

   $41,875yearly

   $20.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level home health attendant salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a home health attendant job description

   A home health attendant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a home health attendant job description:

   Home health attendant job description example

   Introduction
   
   Do you have the career opportunities as a COTA you want with your current employer? We have an exciting opportunity for you to join HCA Florida Healthcare at Home which is part of the nation's leading provider of healthcare services, HCA Healthcare.
   
   Benefits
   
   HCA Florida Healthcare at Home, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:
   
   * Comprehensive medical coverage that covers many common services at no cost or for a low copay. Plans include prescription drug and behavioral health coverage as well as telemedicine services and free AirMed medical transportation.
   * Additional options for dental and vision benefits, life and disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, supplemental health protection plans (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity), auto and home insurance, identity theft protection, legal counseling, long-term care coverage, moving assistance, pet insurance and more.
   
   * Fertility and family building benefits through Progyny
   
   * Free counseling services and resources for emotional, physical and financial wellbeing
   
   * Family support, including adoption assistance, child and elder care resources and consumer discounts
   
   * 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service)
   
   * Employee Stock Purchase Plan
   
   * Retirement readiness and rollover services and preferred banking partnerships
   
   * Education assistance (tuition, student loan, certification support, dependent scholarships)
   
   * Colleague recognition program
   
   * Time Away From Work Program (paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence)
   
   Learn more about Employee Benefits
   
   Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.
   
   Our teams are a committed, caring group of colleagues. Do you want to work as a COTA where your passion for creating positive patient interactions are valued? If you are dedicated to caring for the well-being of others, this could be your next opportunity. We want your knowledge and expertise!
   
   Job Summary and Qualifications
   
   Working under the direction of the Occupational Therapists. The OTA provides rehabilitative services to patients in their homes. They will work with patients that have mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments to improve quality of life. You will assist patients with rehabilitative activities and exercises outlined in a treatment plan developed in collaboration with an occupational therapist.
   
   What you will do in this role:
   
   Under the direction of the registered and/or licensed occupational therapist, optimizes the physical abilities and skills of patients. Will assist in the screening of patients, implementing treatment for assigned patients, delivering treatment to achieve identified goals according to the established treatment plan, documenting progress toward identified goals. Will communicate patient status and needs to the patient, the patient's family, the staff and other professionals as appropriate.
   
   Assists in the selection of Occupational Therapy techniques/media and in the sequence of activities, adapts techniques/media as indicated by patient performance and following consultation with the Occupational Therapist.
   
   Assists the Occupational Therapist in identifying a problem list, long-term goals, short-term goals and a treatment plan. Monitors patient's response to intervention and consults with Occupational Therapist if modification is indicated. Adapts treatment under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist to meet the personal needs of the patient.
   
   What qualifications you will need:
   
   Associate's degree or certificate program from a community or vocational / technical college
   
   Completed certificate program (Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant)
   
   Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state and/or organization requirements and is in good working order
   
   1 years experience Required Years of Experience
   
   This role requires you to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 based on local, state and /or federal law or regulations (unless a medical or religious exemption is approved).
   
   Healthcare at Home is a service line from HCA healthcare. We are dedicated to providing patients with quality care during their recovery at home. We are Medicare certified. Our patients are under the supervision of a physician and our team of professionals develop an individualized plan of care. Our professionals include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, therapists, and social workers. We provide the care you need in the comfort of your own home to restore your independence. Healthcare at Home raises the bar on what quality healthcare looks like. Just like family, we pull together to care for, support and celebrate with each other being able to provide exceptional, expert care for patients.
   
   HCA Healthcare has been recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute more than ten times. In recent years, HCA Healthcare spent an estimated $3.7 billion in cost for the delivery of charitable care, uninsured discounts, and other uncompensated expenses.
   
   "Bricks and mortar do not make a hospital. People do."- Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr.
   
   HCA Healthcare Co-Founder
   
   If you are looking for an opportunity that provides satisfaction and personal growth, we encourage you to apply for our COTA - PRN Home Health opening. We promptly review all applications. Highly qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews. Unlock the possibilities and apply today!
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
   
   Apply

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right home health attendant for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your home health attendant job on Zippia to find and recruit home health attendant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with home health attendant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new home health attendant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the home health attendant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new home health attendant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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