When considering a career in the care industry, there are so many different job roles to explore. Whilst some of these will be fairly self-explanatory and seem relatively straightforward, others may be more complicated, and when people are unsure of what they entail, it can deter them from applying for the role.
One particular job that almost everyone has heard of nowadays is a ‘home carer’, yet there is a lot of confusion surrounding this role and what a standard working day is like for carers who work in the community. To offer helpful insight into what being a home carer is like for anyone interested in this role, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions related to home care below.
What Does a Typical Day Involve for Home Carers?
While all home care agencies differ, many provide essential care services to their clients from early in the morning until late at night, and some even offer 24-hour care. Typically, home carers will either work a morning shift, a day shift or an evening shift, and the length of this shift will depend on whether you’re a full-time or part-time carer.
As the name of the job role suggests, you will go out into the community and provide care and support to clients in their own homes. You can expect to visit multiple clients throughout your shift, and the amount of time you spend with each client can range from 30 minutes to 1 hour and onwards, depending on their individual needs and requirements. When you’re not with a client, you will spend your time driving to your next scheduled visits.
What are the Core Duties of Home Carers?
Throughout the working day, home carers will carry out a variety of tasks, which will differ depending on the type of care being provided. For example, if a client requires domestic care, the tasks you complete will be very different to those of a client who requires personal care.
Although care services are person-centred and tailored to the individual needs of the client, there are a few core duties that home carers often do, and these include tasks such as;
- Personal Hygiene and Dressing
Getting up and ready in the morning may seem like a simple task, but for elderly people struggling with mobility, health, and cognitive issues, it can become a challenge. Showering or bathing can become not only tricky but also dangerous, as the bathroom has a high potential for slips and falls. A carer can help clients complete their bathing routines, allowing them to maintain a good level of hygiene and cleanliness more safely.
Once clean, carers can help their clients dress themselves, ensuring they wear appropriate clothing depending on the weather or activities planned for the day. Care teams can also help with grooming tasks. Whether it’s brushing and styling hair, applying makeup or nail varnish, or having a shave, it can help elderly people feel more confident, more like themselves, and maintain their self-esteem.
- Preparing and Cooking Meals
Nutrition is a vital part of maintaining a healthy body and good mental well-being. Carers will have a good understanding of their client’s dietary needs. They can create a meal plan that incorporates necessary food groups, vitamins, and minerals to form a healthy, balanced diet, while also recognising individual preferences.
Home carer teams can also physically prepare meals for clients. There are various hazards associated with cooking, such as burns, cuts, and food poisoning. If an elderly person’s mobility or cognitive function increases these risks, having a carer take on the job or providing assistance can make it much safer. If a client struggles to feed themselves due to mobility or health issues, carers can also provide feeding assistance.
- Managing Medication
Staying on top of medication is vital for recovery and easing symptoms, so ensuring it’s taken as prescribed is essential for it to work correctly. If elderly people are taking multiple medications and they vary in quantity, how they are taken and when they are taken, it can become confusing and overwhelming. A carer can help keep track of medication schedules, administer them, and watch for any side effects that may occur.
- Maintaining the House
Keeping the house clean and tidy is essential for maintaining hygiene, ensuring safety, and boosting self-esteem. Carrying out household chores like vacuuming, dusting, and wiping surfaces helps to remove dirt and bacteria, making the home more presentable. Washing clothes and bed linens also ensures elderly people aren’t stuck wearing or sleeping in dirty clothes and sheets. Regularly tidying up can help keep the home clutter-free, which is essential to avoid tripping hazards that could result in a fall and lead to injuries.
- Running Errands and Keeping Up With Appointments
A carer can help run errands and stay on top of appointments. Food shopping is essential to ensure that cupboards and the fridge are well-stocked with good, nutritious food. Carers can either do the food shopping on behalf of their client or accompany them to the shops, allowing the client to get out of the house and enjoy fresh air and social interaction.
Other errands may include picking up prescriptions; this is essential for staying on top of medication schedules. A carer can collect the prescription and also help keep track of any medical appointments. They can ensure their clients arrive at appointments on time and provide any necessary physical and emotional support.
- Preparing for Bed
At the end of the day, carers can prepare and serve a nutritious dinner, assist with feeding if necessary, and then help their clients wind down for the evening. A carer can help with the evening personal hygiene routines, helping clients feel comfortable before heading to bed. Carers can then help clients get into bed, especially if they are struggling with mobility, ensuring they are comfortable and setting up any necessary medical devices or other equipment.
How do Home Carers Know What Care Services Each Client Needs?
To make things as easy and hassle-free as possible, here at Beloved Homecare, we use a digital system called PASS, which is installed on our team’s company phones. This system holds all client details, from their care plan to their required list of tasks, and it provides our carers with everything they need whilst they’re out in the community. So, when working as a home carer, you won’t ever have to worry about getting to a client’s house and not knowing what type of care and support they need.
What Training is Provided to New Home Carers?
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually need any previous experience or qualifications to become a home carer. Before you start working in the community, a care agency will provide you with comprehensive training, ensuring you have the skills and knowledge required to provide an outstanding level of care to your clients.
At Beloved Homecare, we invite all new home carers to participate in a three-day training induction at our office, which covers the basics of the job role. Following this, new home carers will then complete two weeks of shadowing, during which they’re paired with an experienced carer. Then, once ready, new home carers will start working independently in the community.
Finding Home Care Jobs in Altrincham
Hopefully, you will now know a little bit more about what a home carer’s job role entails, and there is no denying that becoming a home carer is incredibly rewarding. If you’re not getting much satisfaction from your current job, then this is a brilliant career in the care industry to consider. No two days are the same when you’re a home carer, and you really will have the opportunity to make a difference in your local community.
When you’re searching for home care jobs in Altrincham, be sure to take a look at the careers section on the Beloved Homecare website. Here, you can learn more about working for our care agency and the numerous benefits it offers. As the only home care provider in the local area to be rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC, you can trust that we are the best agency in Altrincham to turn to when you’re interested in becoming a home carer.