The program will train students in hands-on care of seniors and prepare them for the growing field.

SCRANTON, Penn. (February 8, 2017)—Penn Foster Career School, a skills training provider focused on improving employability for workers across a range of in-demand fields, announced the launch of its new regionally and nationally accredited Home Health Aide Diploma Program. Designed to provide individuals with the foundational skills needed to work in the field of home health care, the new program is offered online by Penn Foster and through its partnering organizations.

The nine-course Home Health Aide program will teach students how to assist clients with activities of daily living in the home or community setting, including monitoring and reporting changes in a client’s health and becoming an instrumental part of a home care team working in an at-home or community-based setting. Students will complete a required 40-hour externship prior to graduating from the program, allowing them to gain first-hand work experience in the direct care (or homecare) field.

“There are significant employment opportunities in the field of home health care,” said Dara Warn, Chief Outcomes Officer, Penn Foster. “This fast-growing field is projected to grow by an astonishing 38 percent by 2024, which is much faster than average for all occupations. Our new Home Health Aide program aligns to, and even exceeds the minimum federal requirement for Home Health Aide training, and also requires students to secure a 40-hour externship to gain hands-on experience. Our rigorous program is designed so students feel confident that they will have the required skills to succeed in this great career choice.”

Visit pennfoster.edu for more information.