How to Find Your Calling With a Home Care Career

Are you looking for a career where you can make a tangible difference in someone’s life? Caring for an elderly person or someone with a disability is one of the most rewarding careers you can choose. That’s why we refer to caregiving as a career with heart. We believe that providing support to someone at a critical time in their life can not only improve a person’s physical health and wellbeing, but also help them live their lives with dignity. 

If you have ever considered a career as a caregiver, here are some questions to ask as you explore your options.

Who Makes a Good Caregiver?

It may seem as though anyone can be a caregiver, and to an extent, that might be true. Caregivers provide assistance with activities of daily living such as mobility, transfers, feeding, and hygiene. But becoming an excellent caregiver takes much more than simply performing these duties. Here are just a few of the things that make a quality caregiver stand out:

• Characteristics: Caregivers must be attentive to details. Even small changes in a person’s health may indicate a significant issue, and it is often the caregiver who notices these changes first. In addition, caregivers should be concerned about the wellbeing of their clients and should possess an excellent work ethic. Clients and their families depend on the caregiver to be on time, to be fully engaged, and to follow the care plan closely.
• Personality: In addition to performing their duties precisely and with attention to detail, caregivers also need a loving and compassionate personality. They may be the only person the client sees all day, and it’s important to socialize and offer companionship as well as caring for physical needs.
• A Heart for Caring: The best caregivers are those who view caregiving as a calling. They care about their clients on a personal level, and they want to do everything they can to make them as comfortable as possible. Many caregivers develop close relationships with their clients, and that can make a huge difference in overall health and wellbeing.

What Are the Benefits of Caregiving?

The benefits of caregiving extend far beyond your paycheck. As a caregiver, you have the opportunity to invest in someone else, and that is a proven way to improve your own wellbeing and happiness. As you become more familiar with your client’s routine, you will also experience greater self-confidence as you proactively work to meet their needs. That self-confidence carries over to other parts of your life and into any future career choices you might make.

As a caregiver, you play an integral role in bringing families together, and that may help you in your own family relationships as well. Caregivers make it possible for family members to focus on spending quality time with their elderly loved ones rather than managing all the daily details. When you see your work making positive changes to the dynamics within a family, you gain a deeper appreciation for the people who have invested in you and your family as well.

Is Caregiving the Right Career for You?

There are many paths to becoming a caregiver. Some people know right away that they want to spend their lives investing in others and caregiving is a natural extension of that desire. For others, however, the passion for caregiving flows out of life experiences. Perhaps there was a special caregiver who made a difference in the life of your elderly parent or grandparent. Perhaps you were the caregiver for a family member and you saw firsthand how important the right person can be to a family.

Whatever experiences have led you to consider caregiving as a career, take some time to think through them. Those experiences will become your “why,” and it will be important to remember them when you are working with your clients.

Why Choose Cherished Companions?

Does caregiving sound like the right career for you? Do you have a passion for helping others and a commitment to high quality care? If so, then we would love to meet you! At Cherished Companions, we view caregiving as a calling, and we love partnering with people who share that same dedication to quality, compassionate care. 

Are you looking to make a difference as a caregiver? Consider joining Cherished Companions in our mission to provide compassionate home care. As a top-ranked workplace in Ohio and the nation, we are looking for caregivers who share our commitment to quality, compassionate care for seniors and their families. Call or apply online today!

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