Caregivers often perform a variety of duties and tasks, and when you are a caregiver, you can work as a home help or a personal care aide, and you can take care of children as well as the elderly and those who have serious or chronic medical conditions. If you decide to become a caregiver, you have two choices: you can either work with an agency, or you can work independently. It should be noted, though, that there’s a growing trend of caregivers who choose to work with an agency simply because it is easier to get good assignments, and you can get a more stable job with the proper benefits. If you are thinking of launching a career as a caregiver, what do you need to know? Here’s what you can do to work as a qualified caregiver.
Choose your expertise
If you are determined to become a caregiver, you can either take care of children, or you can take care of adults or the elderly. Those who choose to become a caregiver for children can be referred to as a nanny. Think about what kind of care you would like to provide based on your personality and skills. Are you comfortable working with children and communicating with them on a daily basis? For this, you would need to have the right level of energy so that you can easily keep up with the children you are caring for.
If you feel more comfortable taking care of adults or the elderly, however, you would need to have the emotional and mental capacity for it, and you may also want to consider your physical abilities, as you may be tasked with moving or helping them with daily living tasks and activities such as washing or bathing. If you are a caregiver for adults or the elderly, you should also be meticulous and have the proper attention to detail, as you may be required to deal with medication and establish a set daily routine.
Find out about it
It would also be a good idea to speak to other caregivers, especially those who have been doing it for quite some time. Ask them about their work and what kind of education or training they have gone through in order to become a caregiver. There are different requirements to be a caregiver, but one of the most useful things you can do for yourself would be to undergo specific caregiver training. The good news is that there are live in care agencies which not only provide live in care jobs, but also provide caregiver training courses which can include lessons in handling and moving patients, First Aid, and how to deal with individuals with dementia, among others. Joining a training course is no guarantee of a job, however – but it helps you get one step closer to achieving your goal.
Before you become a caregiver, you may also need to pass certain background checks and screening, as well as provide relevant references. Good luck!