There are four different personal care assistant jobs: working in a private home, working for a health care services firm, teaching, and working for a government agency. A personal care assistant works with clients who are recovering from surgery or who need assistance with daily personal tasks. The role of a personal care assistant is central to the ability of seniors to maintain their independence and to the shorter recovery time for people discharged from the hospital but still recovering.
In order to become a personal care assistant, you will need to complete a post-secondary training program from a community or career college. This program is typically nine to 12 months in length. Courses focus on daily personal hygiene, how to move a patient without injury, and working with clients with diminished mental capacity. Most programs require candidates to have at least five years' experience working full time before considering them for admission.
Many personal care assistants work directly with clients in their own homes. Referrals can be made through volunteer agencies, support groups, health services firms, or social workers. A schedule of visits is agreed upon, along with the list of personal care assistant jobs that will be performed on each visit. This service is covered by most health insurance plans, as it is considerably cheaper than a stay in a hospital or long-term care facility.
There are a broad range of personal care assistant jobs available in a health care services firm. These private organizations offer a wide range of therapies and support services to clients. The patient or his family can arrange for this service to provide a personal care assistant two days a week, a physical therapist once a week and a massage therapist every two weeks. The personal care assistant works with the other members of the health services team to make sure the client is progressing ad receiving the level of care required.
Personal care assistants can become instructors at local community centers, teaching courses to family members on how to assist someone who is recovering from surgery or an elderly family member who has become frail. In order to become an instructor, many professionals complete a certificate program in adult education. Learning the most effective way to teach adults can be a huge help when making this career transition.
Many social services related government agencies have personal care assistant jobs. They are typically responsible for working with the social worker and other members of the health services team to meet the client's needs. Many governments have adopted a "prevention" method of social services, where they are willing to invest additional resources in hopes of reducing the total support costs over the long term.