Being a professional caregiver is a rewarding experience that allows individuals to use their skills and compassion and turn it into a career. Homecare workers play a pivotal role in providing specialized services to those who need them the most. But just like any profession, it might not be for everyone.
For those interested in pursuing a career as a professional caregiver, Serenity Home Care, a comprehensive agency in Beaverton, Oregon, details circumstances that suggest this might be the right career path for you.
What Is a Professional Caregiver?
A professional caregiver is an individual tasked with assisting others. They perform multiple duties, ultimately helping people complete the daily tasks that they cannot do, or have trouble doing, alone. It’s estimated that 39.8 million caregivers provide care to adults (aged 18+) with a disability or illness.
In many cases, the services professional caregivers provide are the difference between an aging adult being able to stay in the comfort of their home or needing to relocate to an assisted care center or nursing home.
Traditionally, the duties of a professional caregiver fall within several categories, such as:
All duties help aging adults, people recovering from medical procedures, and people with special needs, continue having fulfilling lives all within the comfort of their homes.
Is Being An At-Home Caregiver Right For You?
When determining whether or not being a professional caregiver is the right career choice for you, it’s important to understand what the job requires. If you wonder if being an at-home caregiver makes sense for your career goals, ask yourself if you possess the following qualities:
Patience
Perhaps the most important characteristic of a caregiver is patience. It’s not uncommon for aging adults or physically disabled individuals to take longer to perform daily tasks, and depending on any cognitive diagnosis, they may require a different level or type of communication. To help maintain a safe and comfortable atmosphere, patience is a must for caregivers.
Dependability
Integrity is vital to finding success as a caregiver. That’s because the well-being of an elderly individual often depends on your presence, making consistency imperative. Regardless of what services you provide, those you care for rely heavily on your support. What’s more, your level of dependability reflects on the agency that employs you.
Flexibility
While consistency and stability are important for seniors and people with disabilities, caregivers need to be flexible. In this line of work, things can change at a moment’s notice. Caregivers must be willing to adapt to accommodate the various needs of those in their care.
Communication
Communication between the caregiver and those they care for is critical, although it’s not always easy. For older adults and persons with disabilities, aspects may hinder their ability to communicate and they may have difficulty expressing themselves. Being a caregiver requires individuals to push past these barriers and find a way to effectively communicate with others.
Compassionate
Compassion is critical to caring for anyone. For caregivers, it’s important to remember that every person’s situation is different and that not everyone in their care is ready to accept they need assistance. One must have the ability to empathize with a person’s condition to create a comfortable and safe environment.
If you believe you demonstrate these traits in your personal and professional life, then maybe an at-home caregiver is the right career for you.
Learn How to Become a Professional Caregiver with Serenity Home Care
At Serenity Home Care, we encourage anyone interested in pursuing a meaningful career to consider becoming a professional caregiver. The services and care you provide will help make a difference for someone in need. As a comprehensive homecare agency, we are licensed by the Oregon Health Authority, Health Care Regulation, and Quality Improvement and comply with the Division 536 of the Oregon Administrative Rules. To learn more about becoming an at-home caregiver in Beaverton, OR, and the surrounding area, contact us today or fill out an application on our careers page.
