What Do Personal Care Aides Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Personal Care Aides

Personal Care Aides assist the elderly, convalescents, or persons with disabilities with daily living activities at the person's home or in a care facility. Duties performed at a place of residence may include keeping house (making beds, doing laundry, washing dishes) and preparing meals. May provide assistance at non-residential care facilities. May advise families, the elderly, convalescents, and persons with disabilities regarding such things as nutrition, cleanliness, and household activities.

Salary
$28060
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality



Job Description

Job Description

Personal Care Aides assist the elderly, convalescents, or persons with disabilities with daily living activities at the person’s home or in a care facility. Duties performed at a place of residence may include keeping house (making beds, doing laundry, washing dishes) and preparing meals. May provide assistance at non-residential care facilities. May advise families, the elderly, convalescents, and persons with disabilities regarding such things as nutrition, cleanliness, and household activities. They also administer bedside or personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance.

Other tasks include:

  • Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.
  • Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.
  • Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client’s needs and plan for continuing services.
  • Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.
  • Plan, shop for, or prepare nutritious meals or assist families in planning, shopping for, or preparing nutritious meals.
  • Transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians’ offices or on outings, using a motor vehicle.

We asked Personal Care Aides how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

69%

How meaningful is this job

60%


69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Personal Care Aides plan, shop for, or prepare nutritious meals or assist families in planning, shopping for, or preparing nutritious meals. They perform housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes or dishes, or running errands.

A typical day for a Personal Care Aide will also include:

  • Provide clients with communication assistance, typing their correspondence or obtaining information for them.
  • Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.
  • Instruct or advise clients on issues, such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care.
  • Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.
  • Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.

We asked some Personal Care Aides a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 44% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 68% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 52% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 17% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 21% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 60% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Personal Care Aides also participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client’s needs and plan for continuing services. They may also transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians’ offices or on outings, using a motor vehicle.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Personal Care Aides Train family members to provide bedside care. They might also Instruct or advise clients on issues, such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care.

In addition, they Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.

To some Personal Care Aides, it is also their responsibility to Provide clients with communication assistance, typing their correspondence or obtaining information for them.


Working life

Working hours

Less than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Personal Care Aide, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Do Personal Care Aides work in an office-style work environment?

Never
55%


Every day
44%


Do Personal Care Aides work outdoors?

Never
71%


Once a week
12%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Helpers and The Builders

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Personal Care Aides

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Related to Personal Care Aides Job Description

Personal Care Aides job description, what do Personal Care Aides do, typical day for Personal Care Aides, what is it like to work as a Personal Care Aide, how many hours do Personal Care Aides work, day to day work of a Personal Care Aide

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/personal-care-and-service/personal-care-aides.htm
http://phinational.org/


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