Home Health Aide Practice Exam

Which activity is generally included in personal care provided by an HHA?

1. Assigning medications

2. Performing surgical procedures

3. Bathing and grooming

4. Diagnosing illnesses

The correct answer is: Bathing and grooming

Bathing and grooming are fundamental components of personal care provided by a Home Health Aide (HHA). These activities are essential for maintaining an individual's hygiene and promoting their overall well-being. Personal care includes assistance with daily tasks such as washing, dressing, and grooming, which are crucial for the self-esteem and comfort of the clients. Personal care focuses on helping individuals with their basic needs, encouraging independence where possible, and ensuring that they feel clean and cared for. This aspect of care is a core responsibility of HHAs, as they often work with clients who may have limitations due to age, illness, or disabilities that prevent them from performing these tasks independently. In contrast, assigning medications and diagnosing illnesses fall outside the HHA's scope of practice, as these tasks require specific medical training and the authority to make clinical decisions, which HHAs do not possess. Performing surgical procedures is a highly specialized task that is performed by qualified medical professionals and is not within any caregiving role.