They provide patients with much of their basic care. For example, psychiatric aides help patients eat, dress, and bathe. They 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.
Because aides spend a lot of time with patients, they are often the first to notice changes in their behavior. Aides report these changes to the doctors. Aides work on a team with psychiatrists and psychologists. Nurses, social workers, and therapists also are part of the team. Psychiatric Aides is a specialty of Nursing Assistants .