A personal care aide is someone who assists another person in completing daily activities and looks after the own well-being of an individual. While some of the duties of personal care aide and licensed practical nurse overlaps, but they are not a nurse or medical professional. Personal care aide is also categorized as a personal support worker.
What does a Personal Care Aide do?
Also known as caregivers or personal attendants assist physically challenged, elderly, mentally disabled, chronically ill as well as hospice patients. Many rehabilitation centers recruit support workers with specific skills in the domain.
Personal aide care has flexibility in terms of work and schedule. For example, a residence aide may work with one client. Other aides may work in a group setting like hospitals, nursing homes, and daycare centers.
The primary duties may include cooking dressing, bathing, helping with restroom needs, and performing housekeeping tasks. They also help in the rehabilitation and psychological needs of the patients. The job also includes consulting with the client’s family to address their concerns and overall well-being of the client.
What are the Requirements to Become a Personal Care Aide?
Personal care aides need to meet some requirements as per the province they are working in or set by the employer. A high school diploma, license, or certification is not mandatory. Knowledge and understanding of basic emergency and safety techniques is required. Personal care aides should be compassionate, in good physical health, have access to a reliable mode of transportation, and enjoy helping those in need.
Qualities of good Personal Care Aide
Employers look for some specific qualities in candidates. Honestly, trust and compassion are essential to be successful in a chosen career. Some of the other prominent qualities as per job requirements may include:
- Medical Knowledge: Candidates with knowledge of human anatomy, diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, cancer, and heart-related issues is a plus. Understanding of medical terminology and adaptive devices increase your chances of being hired.
- Communication Skills: Considering that support workers work with all ages of patients and in different locations, candidates must have a good command of the language. As a personal support worker in Canada, the ability to speak English and French will add to your resume.
- Interpersonal skills: A strong work ethic is essential. Professionalism and respect towards patients is a must. Body language and listening skills is another area that support worker training should cover.
- Flexibility: Healthcare professionals have to be flexible. Working in day & night shifts on holidays can get overwhelming. Thus, you must be ready to have a flexible schedule.
- Time Management: Patients’ complete health care depends on aides. As a personal attendant, you need to give medicine on time, patient checks, and sometimes perform multiple tasks. Time management and multitasking skills will come handy.
Job Outlook
People working as a personal care aide – medical have different job prospects depending on where they work in Canada. Job opportunities personal aide are good in Ontario over the next 3 years. Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Most employees in this occupation work in nursing and residential care facilities with a small proportion of working in hospitals. According to Job Bank Canada, support workers and related occupations earn between $14.00/hour and $26.22/hour in Ontario. People working as a “”personal care aide – home care”” are part of this group.
How to get there?
Upon successful completion of BizTech College Personal Support Worker course, you will have gained the knowledge and skills required to assist clients and patients with tasks of daily living confidently.
Gaining hands-on experience in a real-world setting is a critical part of a guaranteed clinical placement, you will master the skill-set and gain the knowledge required on-the-job. Clinical placement is your opportunity to make connections with potential employers or clients, which can serve you well upon graduation.
