Description:
Assist elderly or disabled adults with daily living activities at the person's home or in a daytime non-residential facility. Duties performed at a place of residence may include keeping house (making beds, doing laundry, washing dishes) and preparing meals. May provide meals and supervised activities at non-residential care facilities. May advise families, the elderly, and disabled on such things as nutrition, cleanliness, and household utilities.
Tasks
- Perform health care related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses and physiotherapists.
- Administer bedside and personal care, such as ambulation and personal hygiene assistance.
- Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.
- Perform housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes and dishes, and running errands.
- Care for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care and help in adjusting to new lifestyles.
- Instruct and advise clients on issues such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition and infant care.
- Plan, shop for, and prepare nutritious meals, or assist families in planning, shopping for, and preparing nutritious meals.
- Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client's needs and plan for continuing services.
- Transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians' offices or on outings, using a motor vehicle.
- Train family members to provide bedside care.
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- English Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
- Psychology
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Therapy and Counseling
- Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
- Education and Training
- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Communications and Media
- Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
- Transportation
- Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
- Mathematics
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension
- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Problem Sensitivity
- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Speech Clarity
- The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Oral Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Speech Recognition
- The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Written Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Written Comprehension
- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Deductive Reasoning
- The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Information Ordering
- The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Near Vision
- The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Getting Information
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Work Context
- Physical Proximity
- To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
- Face-to-Face Discussions
- How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
- Contact With Others
- How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
- Structured versus Unstructured Work
- To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
- Telephone
- How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
- Frequency of Decision Making
- How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment
- How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
- Work With Work Group or Team
- How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
- Consequence of Error
- How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
Interests
- Social
- Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
- Realistic
- Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Conventional
- Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Enterprising
- Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Investigative
- Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Artistic
- Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Work Style
- Concern for Others
- Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Self Control
- Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Dependability
- Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Integrity
- Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Cooperation
- Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Stress Tolerance
- Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Attention to Detail
- Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Independence
- Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Social Orientation
- Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Work Value
- Relationships
- Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Achievement
- Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Support
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Independence
- Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Working Conditions
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
- Recognition
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Related Occupations
- Dietetic Technicians
- Opticians, Dispensing
- Home Health Aides
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
- Transportation Attendants, Except Flight Attendants and Baggage Porters
- Child Care Workers
- Residential Advisors
- Counter and Rental Clerks
Common Lay Titles
- Aide
- Blind Aide
- Blind Escort
- Care Taker
- Caregiver
- Certified Medication Aide (CMA)
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Community Living Specialist
- Companion
- Competency Evaluated Nursing Assistant (CENA)
- Convalescent Sitter
- Direct Care Staffer
- Direct Service Provider
- Direct Support Professional
- Family Member Caretaker
- Geriatric Aide
- Guardian Family Member
- Habilitation Training Specialist
- Health Service Worker
- Home Care Attendant
- Home Care Giver
- Home Care Provider
- Home Health Aide (HHA)
- Home Health Care Provider
- Home Help Aide
- Homemaker
- Independent Living Specialist
- Individual Service Staff (ISS)
- Live in Caregiver
- Nutrition Aide
- Personal Assistant
- Personal Attendant
- Personal Care Assistant (PCA)
- Personal Care Attendant
- Personal Care Provider (PCP)
- Personal Home Care Aide
- Personal Support Worker
- Resident Assistant
- Sitter