What Is Professional Caregiving?
The senior population is rapidly growing in the United States, making careers such as professional caregiving more in demand than ever. But before embarking on a new career path, it’s essential to understand the role of a professional caregiver and assess whether you have the proper qualities and skills to lead a successful career.
The Professional Caregiving Role
Before you transition into a career as a professional caregiver, it’s essential to understand what the role entails. A skilled caregiver is a trained individual who provides nonmedical care to another person.
There are different types of caregivers, but at Visiting Angels, we hire and train at-home caregivers. An at-home caregiver goes to a client’s home to help with daily activities. Sometimes, clients can care for themselves but may need additional help with chores like laundry, cooking, or vacuuming. Other clients may require more hands-on assistance with dressing, showering, and toileting.
Every client and caregiver relationship is different, but the most important thing to remember is that professional caregivers are not medical professionals. Caregivers only assist with nonmedical tasks and may not provide medical assistance, including administering medications, dressing wounds, or clipping fingernails. If a client needs medical assistance, caregivers can help provide transportation, schedule appointments, and ensure clients receive the necessary care from qualified individuals.
Necessary Skills For Professional Caregivers
Like any job, professional caregiving requires specific skills if you hope to have a long and successful career.
Communication
Good communication with clients is the soul of professional caregiving. Communication helps build trust and allows clients to understand your role. Without solid communication and trust, you won’t be able to provide the quality of care that your clients deserve.
Communication is also vital for sharing information about your clients and services to the office so they can relay that to clients’ families. Many people can’t see their aging loved ones daily, and they rely on caregivers to update them on how their loved ones are doing.
Time Management
Time management is about showing up on time and helping clients with all tasks during your shift. Clients depend on their caregivers and expect and deserve to have them arrive on time daily. Some clients are unable to start their day without their caregiver and are waiting for you to help them use the bathroom, eat, and remind them to take their medication. And if you’re late, that cuts your time availability to assist clients with all the other tasks they need help with throughout the day.
Critical Thinking
No two days are alike as a professional caregiver. While you may have a general to-do list while visiting with a client, many days depend on taking the initiative. Having strong critical thinking skills helps you analyze situations with your clients, assess what needs to be done, and develop creative solutions to provide your clients with the highest quality of care.
Qualities Of A Professional Caregiver
Skills you can learn and develop, but the qualities you possess are part of who you are. Empathic, patient, and dependable individuals often grow into the most successful caregivers.
Empathy
Empathy is your ability to understand a situation from another person’s perspective. Aging is a complicated process, and there will be days when your client may grow overwhelmed with emotion. Empathize with your clients to understand how their feelings can help you better handle the situation. Showing empathy also builds trust and connection between you and your clients because it demonstrates that you hear them and their feelings are valid.
Patience
Life slows down with age. Many clients need help physically and mentally moving as fast as their caregivers. It can take them a while to get from one room to another or to answer a question. Instead of getting frustrated or rushing your client, it’s essential to be patient and let them work through things at their own pace.
Dependability
Many clients couldn’t live independently in their homes without their caregivers. They depend on you for everyday tasks like cooking, showering, and cleaning. Clients should feel confident knowing that if a caregiver says they’re showing up at a specific time, that means their caregiver will be there.
Starting A Career With Visiting Angels
Part of a successful caregiving career is finding the right home care agency; for many caregivers, that agency is Visiting Angels.
Visiting Angels is a locally owned and operated home care agency dedicated to helping seniors throughout Grand Junction and the surrounding communities. We hire compassionate and dependable individuals for part-time and full-time positions. Caregivers with Visiting Angels receive competitive wages, paid training, reimbursable mileage, and bonus opportunities.
If you have the skills and qualities for a successful caregiver career, contact us today or submit your application online.