Paid training offered for those interested in becoming a home health aide

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – With a critical shortage of home health aides, federal and New York State officials are working on ways to retain more workers for the most vulnerable of populations.

Experts report the U.S. population is rapidly aging, and by the year 2034, the number of adults aged 65 and over will be greater than the number of children under 18 for the first time ever. Last year in Macedon , U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced plans to be of better service to seniors in a number of ways.

In April 2024, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) helped introduce the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act. The goal of this legislation is to address nationwide shortages of long-term care workers, including personal care aides and home health aides.

Because of a shortage of these kinds of workers, hospitals have become overcrowded as home care services and nursing homes have less resources to take new patients.

URMC, St. John’s address hospital overcrowding

In Monroe County, The Transformational Community Care Coordination Project Collaborative announced ways folks around the region can get paid to learn how to do these jobs. It’s part of an effort approved by the New York State Department of Health.

Several local organizations, including HCR Home Care , Rochester Regional Health and UR Medicine Home Care are working in collaboration to offer a three-week, paid home health aide certification course. You can click on the name of each organization to be redirected to a sign-up page.

Requirements and expectations to become certified:

• You will need a high school diploma or equivalent.
• You will be asked to complete a background check and participate in a career readiness workshop to learn more about the role.
• Once hired, you will go through three weeks of training and get paid for it ( see below ).
  • At least 75 hours of training is required before certification
  • You must pass a test before you become certified
• Mental health training will also be available for certification

Upon successful completion of the training, and once you’ve passed the test you will receive a $250 bonus. Home health aides who remain employed and do well will receive another $250 after 90 days. After six more months on the job, you’ll receive another $500.

The starting rate for the trainings is $17.55 an hour. All trainings and tests will be conducted in English.

Training starts Sept. 10 and runs through Oct. 1 weekly from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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