It takes a special kind of person to be a caregiver, someone who’s passionate about putting the needs of others above their own. As one type of caregiver, home caregivers – as the name suggests – assist clients in their private residences. If you are currently stuck in a dead-end job with no chance for advancement, caregiving could be your calling. Before making that all-important decision, here’s what to expect once you’ve embarked on an exciting career in the rapidly growing home care industry.
The Role of an In-Home Caregiver
But first, you’ll need to explore what a professional caregiver does in more detail. These are some of the more common duties that you will be asked to perform while serving in the role of an in-home caregiver:
Personal Care
- Assistance with hygiene
- Bathing
- Grooming and dressing
- Transferring and ambulation assistance
- Incontinence care
Companionship
- Recreational activities
- Sort and read mail
- Entertainment
- Incidental transportation
- Religious reading and reminders
- Discuss current and historical events
- Escort to appointments
- Behavioral assistance to improve overall emotional well-being and quality of life
Homemaking Services
- Light housekeeping
- Laundry
- Running errands
- Grocery shopping
- Meal planning and preparation
- Medication reminders
- Changing bed linens
- Vacuuming
Snapshot of an Average Caregiver’s Day
One of the benefits of being a caregiver is having the flexibility to enjoy a healthy work/life balance while juggling school, kids, and leisure activities. Most home care companies offer their employees flexible scheduling options that range from full-day and half-day shifts to part-time or hourly work.
As a caregiver, here’s what to expect in a typical day while working a full-day shift:
Wake-up assistance
Caregivers often help clients get out of bed in the morning. This process can include anything from providing a simple wake-up call to assisting with personal hygiene, bathing, dressing, grooming, taking prescribed medications, preparing breakfast, and more. Taking care of someone with chronic pain who has trouble sleeping at night may mean having to adjust their wake-up time so that it aligns with their needs.
Morning routine
If your client has scheduled medical appointments or social engagements, you’ll need to help them get ready. Suppose poor mobility or cognitive impairment is an issue. In that case, you may need to arrange transportation and accompany them to their appointment so you can keep the family informed about their loved one’s condition.
If their morning is free, it may be time for some exercise. Depending on your client’s mobility and health needs, this could be a 20-minute walk in the beautiful outdoors or a more strenuous activity such as Yoga or Tai Chi.
Lunchtime
Now it’s time to prepare a healthy lunch that addresses the client’s dietary restrictions and allergies. Over lunch, you both can make plans for the remainder of the afternoon. Be sure to prioritize your care recipient’s preferences for the afternoon activity.
Afternoon schedule
Since the benefits of socialization for seniors are well-documented, the afternoon is an ideal time to help clients socialize with family and friends. Set them up with a Zoom or FaceTime video call, during which you can catch up on tasks around the home like doing laundry, cleaning, washing dishes, managing medical appointments, etc.
Evening schedule
As the day draws to a close, you will need to make dinner preparations for the client while once again respecting their dietary needs and restrictions. Soon after that, it will be time for them to head off to bed. Before getting them settled in for the night, you may need to assist your client with their hygiene, bathing, and grooming needs.
Once that’s done, you can return home and get a good night’s sleep knowing that you’ve had a productive day helping someone in need remain in their home!
Join Our Growing Team in Elkhart, IN, Today!
If you’re interested in becoming a professional caregiver or have relevant work experience, Senior1Care would love to speak with you. Due to our expanding client load, we are now seeking qualified candidates to fill several open in-home caregiving positions in Elkhart, IN.
We offer competitive pay, flexible hours, great benefits, performance bonuses, and the opportunity to work in a positive environment while surrounded by fellow compassionate professionals. What are you waiting for? To learn more about how to pursue an exciting job opportunity with Senior1Care today, please visit us at www.senior1care.com.
