Assisted living facilities are ideal for those who need little senior assistance on a day-to-day basis. That means that almost all assisted living facilities offer some support for senior residents, but often they provide full-time in home care as well. Many seniors prefer to live in a facility with other seniors because it helps them make new friends and meets other needs. The most popular form of assisted living is in home care, where a professional caregiver provides around the clock care. As an in home caregiver, you will be responsible for providing companionship and general supervision for your senior loved one. In addition, you may receive more time off and paid vacations.
If you are interested in becoming an in home caregiver, there are many senior assisted living facilities that welcome new caregivers. If you have a previous experience in assisting the elderly, you can find part-time or full time opportunities at a facility. However, if you are not employed, or are underemployed, you may need to take a college level nursing course in order to become certified as a nursing aide. Most schools prefer to hire former students who have proven that they can provide safe and humane senior home care, rather than hiring a new person who has never worked in this area. To learn more about the requirements for in home caregiver certification, contact the facility nearest to you.
Some senior living facilities also have a preference for a skilled nursing or in home care scenario. You may work one on one with your loved one or be involved in a large group of other seniors who are looking after one another. In these scenarios, you will be responsible for helping your loved one maintain their personal, physical, and emotional independence while giving them assistance with tasks that require physical strength.
There are some things that you should be aware of when working in an assisted living facility. First, if you are handling the care of an elderly family member, it is crucial that you have compassion and respect for their condition. Working with seniors can be very stressful, so make sure that you show your loved ones that you value their friendship and that you will do all that you can to keep them comfortable. Second, work with your employer, if possible, to establish a work schedule that fits your schedule. If you must stop work for any reason, notify your boss immediately so that you won’t be leaving any unfinished business.
As with any type of employment, working in senior home care services requires that you adhere to company policies and the rules of your company. It is your responsibility to find out what those policies are before you begin working, as most companies have a general policy of no smoking, no drinking, and no interference with others. Your job could also include performing daily housework duties, such as vacuuming and cleaning, as well as taking vital sign readings at certain times during the day and sending these readings to your employer, who will then forward them to certified health professionals. These work duties may include bathing and dressing the elderly, feeding them meals, and assisting with activities of daily living, such as bathing and moving house.
Work in assisted living does come with its risks. As mentioned above, there are some elderly homeowners who suffer from serious illnesses, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, which can make interacting with other people very difficult. There are also risks posed by the environment itself, such as pest infestations and a lack of basic necessities. Many elderly home care workers are barefoot, only wearing clothing designed for the elderly, and even in facilities with plentiful supplies, many elderly residents still have to eat on their own. Ensuring that you have the necessary experience, training, and tools to safely and competently handle these tasks is important to succeeding in this career.
The pay is not always the best deal. Jobs in assisted living facilities are often more flexible than traditional jobs in the traditional workforce, but this does not mean that you should not look for compensation. If you work for a home health care agencies, or a medical company that manages the care of a large number of patients, chances are that they provide benefits for your personal care assistance. You may be able to negotiate these with your employer, or you could get on the phone with your human resources department and try to negotiate a better compensation package.
Working in an assisted living facility offers great opportunities for personal growth and development, and also allows for job fulfillment and additional income. These opportunities do exist, and caregivers can take advantage of them in many ways. You don’t have to give up everything that you love in order to secure a paycheck, and in fact, in-home care agencies are designed to help you succeed in finding a niche in this growing, expanding industry. Even if you don’t want to offer your services directly to patients, you may be able to find other ways in which you help those who are in need of your assistance.