A career as a senior caregiver is an incredibly rewarding experience.
As more residents in our area reach their elderly years, the need for in-home care providers has grown. Perhaps you’ve thought about a career as a senior caregiver, but you’re not entirely sure what to expect from the job, or if you would even be qualified. The good news is, even if you don’t have any previous professional experience as an in-home caregiver, you may be more qualified for this fulfilling career than you know.
Ideally, caregivers possess a combination of attributes that form the basis of their work, including dependability, patience, compassion, and a desire to make a difference in their local neighborhood. They come from a diverse range of backgrounds and are attracted to caregiving due to the career’s flexibility, variety, and service-oriented nature.
So, what might you anticipate from a day in the life of a senior caregiver? While routines differ from one day to the next and among clients (that’s part of the fun!), here’s an example of what a typical day might look like.
If you are scheduled for a morning shift, your day will usually start with helping your client get up out of bed, dressed, and prepared for the day. You will prepare breakfast and clean up afterwards, and maybe talk with the senior about what is planned for the day.
Later in the morning is a perfect time to run errands with each other and take care of a bit of housekeeping. By noon, you’ll both be ready to eat, so you will likely prepare lunch and spend a little more quality time together.
The afternoon may be filled with pleasant activities like putting together a puzzle with the senior or reminiscing through an old photo album, or any other activity of interest to the senior. A caregiver’s nighttime routine might involve arriving in time to cook dinner and catch up with the person about his or her day, and then cleaning up and enjoying some evening activities. You could watch a movie together, work on a craft, or read a book aloud.
Bedtime involves helping the senior with a bath, dental hygiene, and getting dressed for bed. When you leave the residence, you’ll be responsible for locking the door and ensuring the premises are safe and secure for your sleeping client.
Now that you have a better idea of what a senior caregiver’s day involves, consider taking the next step and contacting Advanced Home Health Care, the top provider of home care in Burlington, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant, Mediapolis, and the nearby areas, to learn more about our current openings and training opportunities. We’re always looking to add caring, dependable people to our caregiver team, and will make sure you are fully equipped with everything you need to succeed. Contact us any time at 800.791.7785 to learn more!
