Personal Care Aides
Personal care assistants provide personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities or illnesses who require help with personal care and activities of daily living support (e.g., feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and ambulation). They also offer help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry. Their work culture is performed in various settings depending on the needs of the care recipient and may include locations such as their home, place of work, out in the community, or at a daytime non-residential facility.
The personal care aide job description include taking charge of personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance, preparing and maintaining records of client progress & reporting changes in client condition to the manager. Besides, they can perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists, consulting with the team caring for the client, evaluating the client's needs, and planning for continuing services.
To care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles, a personal care aide candidate needs an education background in psychology, English, customer service, and a bit of medical history.
To be successful as a personal care assistant, one requires good skills such as active listening, good communication, kind-heartedness, social perceptiveness, and hardworking. Apart from a personal care aide salary, you can expect an increase in the job vacancies in the future.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- NSQF Level 4 Home Health Aide
- Diploma Home Health Aide
- Certificate Home Health Aide
Tasks
- Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.
- Administer bedside or personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance.
- Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.
- Perform housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes or dishes, or running errands.
- Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.
- Instruct or advise clients on issues, such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care.
- Plan, shop for, or prepare nutritious meals or assist families in planning, shopping for, or preparing nutritious meals.
- Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client's needs and plan for continuing services.
- Transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians' offices or on outings, using a motor vehicle.
- Train family members to provide bedside care.
Progression Routes
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