If you’re considering a career in the non-medical healthcare field or are already working in the industry and thinking about a change, you might be wondering if being an in-home caregiver would be a good fit. Here are a few questions that will help you to know whether it’s the right option for you:
Have you already spent some time learning and developing your clinical skills? In-home caregivers will work with patients who face a variety of health issues and may need to call on any number of skills at a moment’s notice. While not always a requirement, working at least a year or two in an inpatient facility is a big help.
Are you a highly organized self-starter? As an in-home caregiver you’ll do more than tend to the patient’s physical ailments. You’ll be assessing their home and determining how to make it a safe environment that accommodates their mobility challenges and is conducive to their long-term well-being. You’ll also be teaching both them and their family how to best handle their health challenges. Should the need arise, you’ll be communicating with doctors and other health care professionals on their behalf, and offering your observations and recommendations on courses of action.
Do you like working in a variety of settings? As a caregiver you’ll be interacting with patients, family members, and other healthcare professionals, but you won’t have the consistency of seeing the same coworkers and bosses every day. But if you prefer being outside the confines of a hospital or clinic then working in patients’ homes can provide you with the change of scenery you’ve been looking for.
Do you like building relationships? Working in patients’ homes means you’ll be seeing them frequently for months or even years. You’ll be getting to know them and their families. You’ll be celebrating improvements in their health together, as well as facing the inevitable setbacks and crises along with them. You’ll develop deep connections with your patients, and get the immense satisfaction of seeing their lives improved by better health and the ability to stay in their homes rather than being forced into a nursing home or assisted living facility.
If you answered “yes” to most or all of these questions, then a career as a non-medical in-home caregiver may be the one for you. With in-home caregiving’s flexible hours and numerous part-time opportunities, you may even be able to experience the job first-hand without leaving your full-time position. If you think you have what it takes and have the desire to pursue it further, talk to a local in-home healthcare provider to find out more and see what options are available.
