What it Means to Be a Professional Caregiver

Professional caregiving is a growing career choice for many individuals looking for more rewarding and flexible employment. But what does it mean to be a professional caregiver? And how does professional caregiving differ from family caregiving?

Professional Caregivers vs. Family Caregivers

You may have heard the terms professional caregiver and family caregiver used interchangeably, but there is a distinct difference. A family caregiver refers to an individual who provides nonmedical assistance to someone in their family. A family caregiver is often an unpaid position, and the person giving care typically has no formal training.

A professional caregiver is a trained individual who assists seniors and adults with disabilities with nonmedical tasks. These duties can include light housekeeping, personal grooming, transportation, meal preparation, or medication reminders. Professional caregivers do not have a blood relationship with their clients. However, they know the importance of building a trusting relationship powered by communication and compassion. 

The Role of a Professional Caregiver

In general, the role of a professional caregiver is to help seniors safely and comfortably age at home. At Visiting Angels, we offer various caregiving services personalized to each client’s needs. 

• Companion Care- Visiting Angels provides companion care for clients who need minimal assistance. This type of care includes help with light housekeeping, meal preparations, and medication reminders. Caregivers providing companion care may also have to give transportation to doctor’s appointments or errands. 
• Personal Care- Caregivers who provide personal care help with the same nonmedical tasks of companion care but with more intimate care such as mobility assistance, personal grooming, toileting, showering, and dressing. 
• Respite Care- Sometimes, clients may receive their primary care from a family caregiver. However, since most family caregivers volunteer their time, they often seek temporary help so they can take time to relax and recharge. Caregivers who provide respite care may combine companion and personal care services. 
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care- Specializing in a specific type of care as a career giver is a great way to continue your training and education for providing clients with the highest quality of care. Some caregivers at Visiting Angels specialize in dementia and Alzheimer’s care, working with clients who have these conditions and may need unique approaches to their care. 
• Transition Care- One of the goals at Visiting Angels is to reduce the readmission rate of seniors after hospitalization. We work to keep seniors out of the hospital with transition care. Caregivers work with the hospital team to ensure their clients return home safely and follow proper follow-up care instructions. It’s essential to note that you will not have to provide any medical care, including changing bandages or administering medications as a caregiver. Instead, your role may entail taking a client to follow-up appointments, helping them bathe, or reminding them to take medications.
• End-of-Life Care- When seniors enter the final stages of life, they may request working with a professional caregiver. Working as an end-of-life caregiver means working alongside a hospice team to make your client as comfortable as possible. This includes emotional, spiritual, and mental support. 

Starting a Career with Visiting Angels

If you think working as a professional caregiver is the right career move for you, the team at Visiting Angels Southwest Colorado would love to hear from you. Our Southwest office is a locally owned and operated agency with a strong dedication to our community. We seek part-time and full-time positions to serve clients in Pagosa Springs, Cortez, Alamosa, San Luis Valley, Durango, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico. 

We offer our employees competitive pay, flexible hours, bonus opportunities, paid training, paid time off, and reimbursable mileage. If you’d like to learn more about our career opportunities, you can complete an online application or call us at 970-264-5991.