If you’re considering a career in caregiving – congratulations! If you’re interested in becoming a caregiver, you’re going to be making a difference in people’s lives every day, and your life is going to undergo many positive changes because of your admirable career choice.
There are several paths you can take in the caregiving career. You can become a non-medical caregiver, or you can pursue becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA). The majority of the time, caregivers who pursue CNA certification begin their careers as non-medical caregivers.
Becoming a Caregiver (Non-Medical)
Your duties as a non-medical caregiver include providing personal care and companionship to your clients. You may also provide respite care for family members who are acting as the primary caregiver by giving them much-needed rest periods for them to take care of their own needs.
Becoming a caregiver means you’ll be trained in helping clients with personal care, which can include feeding, bathing, dressing, medication reminders, transportation or walking assistance, social support, and running errands. A non-medical caregiver focuses on the needs of seniors and doesn’t have a medical background.
Caregiving training requirements vary from state to state. Some states recommend an eight-hour certification course but don’t require it. Other states require an eight or ten-hour certification course, while many states require no certification at all.
A high-school degree or GED isn’t necessary to become a non-medical caregiver. Some states require background checks.
Many home care agencies, like Family Resource Home Care, provide the necessary training to meet any state requirements.
Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Becoming a certified nursing assistant requires training, and that training will vary from state to state. However, every state regulates CNAs who work in nursing homes, and all states maintain a registry. Each state also sets its own training and competency evaluation standards, though there is a federal minimum. CNAs usually earn slightly more than non-medical caregivers, though pay rates will vary depending upon location.
Some states put the federal minimum of 75 hours of training in place, and some set it at 120 hours. CNAs are usually tested on their ability to take blood pressure readings, give partial bed baths, and put on compression stockings.
All CNAs need a high school diploma or GED. Training programs to become a CNA can be found at community colleges and trade schools. You want to make sure before you enroll in a program that it’s approved by your state’s nursing board.
What Makes a Great Caregiver?
Great caregivers who flourish in their careers are kind, caring, compassionate, and patient. They love to serve others and have a desire to help people improve their quality of life, especially the elderly. They thoroughly enjoy spending time with older adults. Becoming a caregiver may sound like a dream come true!
In addition to these essential caregiver traits, an effective professional caregiver must:
- Be reliable and dependable
- Act in a professional manner
- Communicate effectively with clients, their families, and other healthcare professionals
- Be able to build positive client-caregiver relationships
- Have physical, mental, and emotional stamina
- Have reliable transportation
- Be honest
- Be willing to put the health and well-being of the care recipient first
If you have a sincere desire to pursue a caregiver career and possess the traits listed above, Family Resource Home Care would love to hear from you. We have some wonderful job openings, and the hours are very flexible.
Becoming a Caregiver at Family Resource Home Care
To learn more about these openings, call us or fill out our contact form today. We’d love to get to know you and fill you in on how we can help you get started as a caregiver. We offer a number of benefits and can help you with your training! If you’re already a caregiver, please feel free to give us a call about a career opportunity with Family Resource Home Care.
