Psychiatric aides care for patients with mental disorders and developmental disabilities.

Psychiatric aides work in hospitals and institutions. They care for patients who are mentally impaired or developmentally disabled. Some work with patients in rehabilitation for drugs or alcohol.

Psychiatric aides provide patients with basic care. For example, psychiatric aides help patients eat, dress, and bathe. They maintain daily records of the physical condition of their patients.

Aides also lead patients in educational and recreational activities. Activities include playing games and watching television. Sometimes they play sports or go on field trips.

Aides also accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments. Aides make sure patients stay in assigned areas. Sometimes they restrain patients to prevent injuries.

In some facilities aides change bed linens and perform other basic cleaning tasks.

Because psychiatric aides spend a lot of time with patients, they are often the first to notice changes in their behavior. Aides report these changes to doctors. Aides work on teams with psychiatrists and psychologists. Nurses, social workers, and therapists may also be part of their teams.