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What does a Care Assistant do?

Photo of Brenna Goyette
Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 3 min read

A care assistant helps people with activities of daily living and provides basic medical care. They may work in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home.

Care Assistant job duties include:

  • Providing personal care and assistance with activities of daily living to patients in their own homes
  • Assisting with transfers, ambulation and range of motion exercises
  • Providing skin care, mouth care, nail care and hair care
  • Assisting with toileting needs and providing perineal care
  • Providing nutrition support, including meal planning and preparation, feeding and clean up
  • Performing light housekeeping tasks, such as laundry, vacuuming, dusting and changing linens
  • Running errands for the patient, such as grocery shopping or picking up prescriptions
  • Providing companionship and emotional support
  • Monitoring vital signs and reporting changes to the supervising nurse
  • Documenting care provided

Care Assistant Job Requirements

There are no formal education requirements for a Care Assistant, although some employers may prefer candidates who have completed a health care program at a vocational school or community college. Many Care Assistants are certified through the National Healthcare Association as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Experience working in a long-term care facility or with the elderly is also helpful.

Care Assistant Skills

  • Patience
  • Empathy
  • Communication
  • Listening
  • Observation
  • Flexibility
  • Adaptability
  • Creativity
  • Problem solving
  • Organisation
  • Initiative

Related: Top Care Assistant Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become a Care Assistant

There are many ways to become a care assistant. One can study to become a certified nurse assistant (CNA), or a home health aide (HHA), or a personal care aide (PCA). One can also receive on-the-job training to become a care assistant.

The most important qualities for a care assistant are compassion, patience, and the ability to communicate effectively. A care assistant must be able to empathize with patients and their families, as well as be able to understand and follow instructions.

Those who wish to become a care assistant should consider taking courses that will teach them the necessary skills, such as first aid and CPR. They should also be prepared to undergo a background check and drug test, as many employers require these of their employees.

Related: Care Assistant Resume Example

Related: Care Assistant Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Editorial staff

Photo of Brenna Goyette, Editor

Editor

Brenna Goyette

Expert Verified

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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