One checklist per caregiver. A nurse or trained supervisor watches each skill, marks how it was checked, and signs off. The skill list follows the federal home health aide training subjects.
Agency:
Caregiver skills competency checklist
CaregiverHire dateEvaluatorEvaluator credentials
Method: D = demonstrated with the client, P = demonstrated with a pseudo-patient (a person playing the client), O = oral, W = written test
Personal care
Skill
Method
Competent (Y/N)
Evaluator initials
Date
Bed bath
Sponge, tub and shower bath
Hair shampoo in sink, tub and bed
Nail and skin care
Oral hygiene and denture care
Toileting and elimination
Dressing
Mobility and safety
Skill
Method
Competent (Y/N)
Evaluator initials
Date
Safe transfer, bed to chair
Walking with a gait belt, walker or cane
Range of motion and positioning
Fall prevention in the home
Recognizing an emergency and calling for help
Health and observation
Skill
Method
Competent (Y/N)
Evaluator initials
Date
Hand hygiene and gloves (infection control)
Reading and recording temperature, pulse and respiration
Nutrition and fluid intake
Recognizing and reporting skin changes
Observing, reporting and documenting changes
Communication with the client, family and office
Respect for privacy, dignity and property
Agency-specific tasks
Skill
Method
Competent (Y/N)
Evaluator initials
Date
Result
Competent in all listed skillsRetraining needed (list skills above)Re-evaluate on:
Evaluator signatureCaregiver signature
What should a caregiver competency checklist cover?
For Medicare-certified home health agencies, federal rules list the subjects a home health aide must be trained and
evaluated on, including bathing, toileting, safe transfers, range of motion, infection control, reading temperature,
pulse and respiration, and recognizing emergencies (42 CFR
484.80). Non-medical agencies follow their state's rules instead, and many state personal care curricula cover the
same ground. Check your state's hours and topics in the training requirements
lookup.
Who can sign off on competency?
For home health aides, the federal rule requires a registered nurse to perform the evaluation, and communication, vital signs,
personal care, transfers and range of motion must be observed with a patient or a pseudo-patient. Your state may set different rules for non-medical caregivers; follow
the stricter of your state rule and your agency policy, and re-check skills when a caregiver's work changes.
How Caregiver Scheduling handles this
Caregiver credentials and training records are stored with expiry dates and raise alerts before they lapse. A caregiver with a missing or expired required document can't be assigned until they're cleared. See credential tracking.
These free tools are made by the team behind Caregiver Scheduling,
caregiver scheduling software for home care agencies.
Simple pricing
From$199/month
Up to 10 caregivers on Starter, 50 on Growth.
More than 50 caregivers? We'll put together a custom Scale plan for your agency.
