Understanding the Role of a Professional Caregiver
Personal caregiving is one of the most rewarding career choices for individuals who enjoy interacting with and helping others. However, suppose you’re new to caregiving and thinking about making the transition. In that case, it’s vital to understand what a caregiver does, the different types of caregiving, and how to get started with an agency like Visiting Angels.
What is a professional caregiver?
The primary goal of at-home caregiving is to help seniors to continue living safely and independently. A professional caregiver is a trained individual who provides nonmedical services to another individual, usually a senior. Some caregivers work at senior living communities or nursing homes, but more commonly, caregivers work with individuals in the comfort of a client’s home.
It’s vital to understand that a caregiver differs from an at-home nurse or certified nursing assistant (CNA). Nurses are medically trained and may assist clients with various medical tasks. CNAs also have medical training and can provide medical services under the supervision of a nurse. Caregivers are professionally trained but can not offer medical services, including changing bandages or administering medication.
Types of caregiving services
Caregiving services can vary depending on the agency. At Visiting Angels, some of our most common care choices include companion, personal, end-of-life, and dementia care.
- Companion care is for seniors who can primarily care for themselves but may need help with some daily living tasks such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, or medication reminders.
- Personal care is for seniors who need more hands-on assistance than those with companion care. Personal care includes all the same services as companion care, but caregivers may also help with personal grooming, mobility, bathing, and toileting.
- End-of-life care is for seniors who are entering the final stages of life. Many end-of-life caregivers work alongside hospice teams to provide physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual comfort to seniors and their families.
- Dementia care is for seniors living with dementia. Caregivers working with dementia clients provide personal care services with an understanding of the nuances of dementia and how to work with people who have it.
Working with an at-home care agency
The easiest and most efficient way to start a career as a caregiver is to work with a professional agency such as Visiting Angels. We’re a locally owned and operated home care agency working with part-time and full-time caregivers to provide home care to seniors in our community. We offer competitive hourly pay, bonus opportunities, paid training, paid time off, reimbursable mileage, and more.
If you think you have what it takes to work as a successful at-home caregiver, the team at Visiting Angels would love to connect. Our Farmington office works with seniors and families in Farmington, Aztec, Bloomfield, Navajo, Dam, Flora Visita, and the surrounding New Mexico communities. If you think caregiving is the right career move for you, the team at Visiting Angels would love to connect. If you want more information about career opportunities with Visiting Angels, apply online or call 505. 516.1150.