| What opportunities are available for employment in | | | | personal care and safe transfers, exercise coaching, |
| senior care? | | | | medication monitoring and errands. Mental and |
| Senior care jobs are available in retirement | | | | physical exercises along with social activities may be |
| communities, senior home care agencies and nursing | | | | included in the senior's plan of care. |
| homes. Retirement communities employ managers, | | | | How do you become certified as a nursing aide? You |
| sales, support and care staff, usually consisting of a | | | | should check the certification requirements in your |
| Registered Nurse and a few Certified Nursing Aides | | | | state. Many community colleges offer nursing aide |
| to support the community. Senior home care | | | | certification programs and some hospitals and nursing |
| agencies employ managers consisting of registered | | | | homes may also offer the nursing aide certification. |
| nurses and social workers along with office and field | | | | You are usually able to obtain certification within 6 to |
| staff including schedulers, recruiters, bookkeepers and | | | | 12 weeks, depending on if you attend a full-time or |
| receptionists or in-take coordinators. Field staff | | | | part-time program. After finishing a certification |
| consists of Certified Nursing Aides, Home Health | | | | program, you will be required to take the state |
| Aides and Certified Personal Care Assistants (all | | | | exam. Usually your program will provide you with |
| states in the U.S.A. certify nursing aides and additional | | | | practice tests. Skills learned include proper emotional |
| senior care certfications vary by state). | | | | interaction with the senior, along with how to bathe, |
| What training is required? Some positions do not | | | | transfer and maintain cleanliness in the patient's |
| require training beyond a caring personality. Other | | | | environment. Feeding tube and colostomy |
| positions require experience in that area of expertise. | | | | maintenance are also taught. |
| Non-medical senior home care agencies are able to | | | | Are positions full-time or part-time? Both full-time and |
| staff companion caregivers in most states. These | | | | part-time positions are available as often seniors will |
| caregivers receive caregiver training through the | | | | only need part-time services in their home when |
| senior care agency and the only requirements are | | | | additional care is first needed. Many times senior |
| dependablility, compassion and experience interacting | | | | home care agencies will need to staff morning or |
| with seniors. | | | | afternoon or evening caregivers in order to meet a |
| What certifications are required? Retirement | | | | senior's care needs, which means a wide variety of |
| communities and nursing homes usually require | | | | part-time schedules are available. This makes |
| caregivers to be certified as a nursing aide. Senior | | | | companion care an attractive opportunity for both |
| home care agencies are considered non-medical and | | | | seniors and students. |
| may require some caregivers who are working in | | | | How do you find available senior care positions? It is |
| nursing facilities or reimbursed by long-term care | | | | always a good idea to obtain some experience |
| insurance to be certified nursing aides or certified | | | | through volunteering at a senior center, nursing home. |
| home health aides or certified personal care | | | | Opportunities also exist through associations for |
| assistants if these certifications are offered in the | | | | age-related diseases such as Parkinson's Disease or |
| state where care services are provided. | | | | Alzheimer's Disease. You may also explore senior |
| What are the job duties? The caregiving job duties | | | | caregiving jobs through career centers for caregivers |
| will consist of: companionship, light housekeeping, | | | | where one application will reach all the senior care |
| laundry, meal preparation (and planning), assisting with | | | | companies in your area. |