Do you love helping others, being compassionate, and consider yourself a giving person?
Or maybe you miss being a mom and would love to care for those who can no longer care for themselves.
Then becoming an elderly caregiver might be the right career path for you.
More importantly, working as an elderly caregiver can be personally rewarding. What’s more, elderly care jobs can also provide you with some level of financial stability as older adults who need caregivers are on the rise.
In a nutshell, you’ll provide support to people while also earning a steady income!
So, here’s all you need to know about what it means to be an elderly caregiver, the qualities and certifications needed for finding a job as an elderly caregiver, and how you can break into this growing field.
Who is a Caregiver?
{ A caregiver assisting a senior woman in using a laptop}
A caregiver is someone who cares for an elderly, disabled person, or an individual who needs help in performing day-to-day activities.
They may be a family member, friend, or professional caregiver. Caregivers can provide a variety of services, including help with everyday tasks, companionship, and providing medical assistance.
Caregivers may also be responsible for cleaning, cooking, and other household duties. In some cases, caregivers also provide long-term care for the elderly or infirm person.
Are There Elderly Caregiver Jobs Available?
There are a variety of jobs available as a caregiver including elderly caregiving. These elderly caregiver jobs can vary in terms of hours of work, pay, and other responsibilities; but at the end of the day, they have one main goal – which is to provide support to people who need it most.
According to the latest employment data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, caregiving professions are expected to increase by 25% from 2021 to 2031 which is higher than the average of any other occupation.
As such, if you’re thinking about becoming an elderly caregiver, now is a great time to get started with your job search.
But before you begin your search for elderly caregiver jobs, it’s important to understand your responsibilities.
It’s also crucial to know the tasks expected of you and tasks that are within your scope of practice. For example, if you’re caring for an elderly person with a feeding tube, you’ll need training or certification to do this safely and correctly.
Know Your Responsibilities as an Elderly Caregiver
As an elderly caregiver, whether you’ll be working as an in-home elderly caregiver or as an assisted living elderly caregiver depending on the senior’s needs you’ll help with daily tasks such as
- Dressing and bathing
- Administering medications under the direction or prescription of a nurse/doctor
- Meal preparation
- Navigating public transportation
- Booking doctor’s appointments and checking their health condition
- Grocery shopping
- Keeping seniors socially active by providing companionship
- Non-medical services like cleaning, doing the laundry, teaching self-care skills, etc.
- Basic Medical services like changing bandages or dressings, giving massages, etc.
Do I Need a Certificate or Experience to Become an Elderly Caregiver?
A certificate/experience may or may not be needed depending on the position you’re applying for. Generally, most positions require a high school diploma or its equivalent before you can apply.
But depending on the state you’re working in, you may be required to meet the state’s requirements. These requirements could be anything from having a license, or a certificate, to completing some basic training and passing a basic test.
You should check your state’s board of health for more information about needed requirements especially if you’re looking to work in a hospital or hospice care.
With that said, here are examples of elderly care jobs you might look out for when you begin your job search.
Elderly Caregiver Jobs
Most elderly care jobs use the terms caregiver, elderly caregiver, and home caregiver when looking for someone to care for seniors – but here are other popular elderly care jobs to look for too.
Licensed Practical Nurse/ Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN or LVN)
Licensed vocational nurses or licensed practical nurses’ duties include most of the medical aspects of caregiving such as administering basic patient care, checking blood pressure, and keeping records on patients’ health. They mostly work in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living homes.
This program usually takes about a year or more depending on your location and school.
If you’re interested in the medical aspects of home health care getting an LPN or LVN certificate is a plus for you
Home health aides
Home health aides provide a variety of essential services to people who are unable to leave their homes. They mostly work in the home of a person who is receiving home health care and assisted living homes.
These aides assist with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and going to the bathroom, and may also perform some basic medical care.
Unlike LPN or LVN, you don’t need a certificate to be a home health aide. But depending on the organization you’re working with, you might need a high school diploma or you might need to go through a training session.
Personal care aides
Personal care aides only perform non-medical aspects of elder care and don’t require any certifications.
They’re responsible for performing a wide variety of duties in the homes of seniors. These duties can include bathing, dressing, feeding, and helping with general household tasks. They might also provide companionship for seniors.
Although certifications aren’t a must for many elderly care jobs, caregivers must possess the following skills and qualities because these are what will truly qualify them as excellent caregivers.
Important Qualities to Possess as a Caregiver.
Interpersonal skills
More than anything else, your interpersonal skills like communication skills, and listening skills must be top-notch as it’s very important in the care of seniors.
For example, to be a good elderly caregiver, you must be a good listener. This skill is essential when caring for the elderly. The elderly assigned to you may be dealing with a variety of health conditions, so they’ll likely experience varying levels of pain, anxiety, or confusion.
It’s important to listen to your seniors so you can understand their needs and find ways to help them feel better.
Detail oriented
Just like taking care of a baby which requires a whole lot of detail and attention, taking care of seniors also requires a similar degree of attention as you have to be sensitive to their needs and easily pick up signs of discomfort.
This is because sometimes your senior may be experiencing pain and find it difficult or uncomfortable to tell you. If you however pay attention to details, you can notice situations where seniors are in pain and you can help by administering prescribed medication, taking them to see a doctor, or simply providing comfort.
Physical stamina and flexibility
Whether you’re working as an in-home caregiver or as an elderly caregiver in an assisted living home, you’ll have to travel to senior homes or at the very least accompany seniors to places they’d love to visit. You’ll also need to assist them by lifting them in some cases.
Either way, always make sure you’re physically fit, flexible, and prepared for any impromptu challenge.
Ready to Make a Difference in Someone’s Life? Become an Elderly Caregiver at Amy’s Eden Today!
At Amy’s Eden, not only will you have the freedom of a flexible schedule, but you can also build a personal bond with the seniors under your care.
What’s more is that, unlike large communities where caregivers are usually overwhelmed with the number of seniors to take care of, Amy’s Eden caregivers aren’t overwhelmed because we believe in more personal one-on-one care.
However, like all jobs, working as an elderly caregiver has its ups and downs. You may encounter difficult seniors or struggle with feelings of frustration.
However, there are also many rewards to this line of work, such as helping others and making a difference in the world. At Amy’s Eden, not only do you make a difference but you also make it a much more fun world for seniors.
So are you ready to become the support seniors need?
Send In your application now to Amy’s Eden Senior Care and check out available caregiving positions in Reno or Carson City Nevada, and surrounding areas!
