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First Job as a Caregiver? What You Need to Know
As more people discover how fulfilling a caregiving career can be and more seniors choose to age in place, the caregiving industry continues to expand. In fact, there are now 4.5 million caregivers in the U.S.
Whether you’ve just graduated from college or have been in the workforce for decades, a job in caregiving can be a rewarding and exciting career. But how do you navigate your first day and weeks as a new caregiver?
Keep reading to learn helpful hints to set the stage for success as a first-time professional caregiver.
What Are My Responsibilities?
Folks new to caregiving might not know all of their responsibilities. An in-home caregiver assists clients with most of their non-medical daily tasks, including:
- Grooming, dressing, and bathing
- Light housekeeping, such as vacuuming or washing the dishes
- Meal planning and preparation
- Providing transportation to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments, social activities, and more
- Medication and prescription management
- Mobility support
- Providing companionship, such as participating in a client’s favorite hobbies
While that seems like a lot to handle, most caregivers love that no one day ever looks the same. Once you find your groove, you can easily oversee these different duties.
Tips for Success
As with any new career, building a solid foundation during your first year as a caregiver is essential. Always be open to feedback, look for opportunities for improvement, and learn as much as you can.
Use these tips to make the most of your first year as a Leominster in-home caregiver.
Create and Maintain a Daily Schedule
Many of the clients you’ll be working with have consistent daily schedules. Help them keep their households running smoothly by developing a schedule from the get-go. While every day will look different, preparing an agenda in advance makes things easier. Plan your client’s daily activities, meals, essential appointments or errands, and weekly housekeeping tasks.
Have a Positive Attitude and Stay Flexible
It’s easy to become frustrated when things don’t go according to plan. However, as a professional caregiver, you’ll face many obstacles that come out of left field. Always leave some wiggle room in your daily schedule and understand that things can and will change. Show up to work every day with a positive attitude and remember that nothing will ever be set in stone.
Keep Up with a Client’s Meds and Doctor’s Visits
One of your most important responsibilities as a caregiver is helping your client feel their best. This means you’ll work with many healthcare professionals, including doctors and pharmacists. Keep a detailed record of your client’s doctor’s appointments, medication history, prescriptions, and pre-existing health conditions.
Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Things
Whether it’s cooking a new recipe or engaging clients with new activities, trying different things keeps life—and your career—interesting and exciting. Plus, your clients will appreciate spicing things up every once in a while.
Have a Support System
Professional caregivers may experience burnout. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, depressed, isolated, fatigued, or losing interest in your favorite pastimes, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Establishing a support system helps you overcome these difficult times.
Start Your Career as a Caregiver
Ready to take the first step on your journey to a satisfying career helping others? Visiting Angels is always looking for compassionate individuals who want to make our clients’ lives brighter.
Feel free to browse our employment opportunities.
Have questions? Contact us today by calling 978-227-5263. We hope to hear from you soon!