What does a Care Assistant do?
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.
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