Home-based care is a field that has lots of job opportunities. There is increased demand for skilled carers. Live in care assistance is a job that requires a person with a very kind and compassionate heart. One needs to have the zeal to impact positively on people’s lives. This special responsibility requires someone who cares about other people even more than just having a job. With these characteristics, being a live-in caregiver will give you that satisfaction and sense of purpose.
Job description
Just like any other job, caregiving has its job descriptions. Here are some of the duties of live in carers. They also differ depending on your training and interests.
Personal care
You will be dealing with elderly people or people with certain health-related issues. You will be assisting the client to perform basic activities that include taking a bath, dressing and taking food. You are to provide support when the patient needs to access other rooms, maybe visiting the washroom or going to bed after a session of physical exercise. Making sure proper body hygiene levels are maintained all the time falls under this category.
Companionship
Unlike other care services, live in care jobs require the caregiver to live in a client’s residence. This means that as a care assistant, you will need to develop a unique yet special relationship with the client. You will need to create an affectionate relationship with people of different backgrounds and behaviours. Outstanding communication skills are important as you will have daily interactions with the client with the aim of maintaining a peaceful and fun environment.
Specialist skills
Before being posted to assist a client, there is training to enable you to perform other tasks that are tailored to meet specific needs. You will be taught to do first aid procedures, attending to wounds and cuts, administering both oral and injection medication and physical therapy. You will have knowledge about the symptoms of different health conditions and how to manage chronic diseases and other health disorders. Your job is to give quality health care to clients in the comfort of their homes.
Household duties
Live-in carers may be tasked with home activities including washing dishes, vacuum cleaning, washing clothes, preparing meals and other light household chores.
Running errands
This involves going to shop for groceries and other household items.
All these duties are to be undertaken with much care and precision. You don’t need to worry about how you will attain all this. All that is needed is a loving and caring attitude towards people. After a job application and shortlisting; the agency will train you and effectively train you to perform all these duties with much ease.
Ensure you do comprehensive research on the institutions to which you send job applications. You should also understand the details of the contract before making any commitments. The pay is worthy of this noble career, and there are measures that protect your rights.