Skills To Develop For A Successful Caregiving Career

Like any career, professional caregiving requires developing a specific skill set. The skills you’ll need as a professional caregiver are essential to the quality of care for your clients and your success in the field. 

Understanding Your Role As A Caregiver

To understand the importance of your needed skill set, it’s first essential to understand your role as a professional caregiver. Caregivers are trained individuals who aim to improve a client’s quality of life by providing companionship and assisting with daily activities. Caregivers with Visiting Angels are at-home caregivers, meaning they go to their client’s homes to assist with household and personal tasks so clients can continue living independently. 

While professional caregivers undergo specialized training to efficiently and safely care for clients, caregivers are not medical professionals and should not perform medical tasks. A medical task would include administering medication, changing IVs, or dressing a wound. 

Communication 

The foundation of a successful caregiving career is building trusting relationships with your clients. Without strong communication skills, you won’t be able to build relationships with clients and their families. You should feel comfortable talking to clients, sharing why you’re performing certain tasks, and listening to clients when they have something to say. 

Critical Thinking

There’s no standard day-to-day caregiving. Every day will be different, and you must feel comfortable thinking critically about situations and making executive decisions in the best interest of your clients. Critical thinking also includes the ability to think ahead, prevent problems from arising, and find creative solutions.

Time Management 

There are two essential parts of time management. One is being dependable for your clients by showing up every day on time. Clients need your assistance, and they should feel confident that you’ll show up when you’re supposed to. The aspect of time management that’s important is your ability to allocate time. You’re required to complete various tasks each day during your shift. You must know how to manage your time to ensure everything is completed within that time frame. 

Organization 

Organization is essential to nearly every career, but it’s especially important in caregiving because not only are you keeping yourself organized, but you’re also helping your clients stay organized. Organization can refer to the physical act of tidying up a client’s home, or it can relate to how you document and share information for the client, the client’s family, and your fellow caregivers. 

Tips To Develop Your Skills

Even if you feel proficient in your communication, critical thinking, time management, and organization, you can further develop your skills. Before starting your career as a professional caregiver, consider the following to perfect your skill set. 

• Books: There are tons of books online or at local bookstores that focus on caregiving and skills like communication and organization that can help you become a better caregiver. 
• Online classes: You don’t have to be registered with a college to take a class on communication or critical thinking. Many online resources offer free or discounted courses, such as LinkedIn Learning or Harvard Online. 
• Mentorships: The best way to learn the ins and outs of caregiving is to connect with people in the field. Even if you don’t know any professional caregivers, family caregivers who care for an aging loved one can give insight into skills needed for caregiving. 
• Volunteer work: Working with seniors, whether through a service center or community program, is a great way to develop relevant skills for caregiving.

Starting A Career With Visiting Angels Grand Junction 

A lot goes into working as a professional caregiver, but the Visiting Angels Grand Junction team would love to connect if you think you have what it takes. We’re hiring full-time and part-time caregivers to assist seniors throughout Grand Junction and the surrounding area. Working with Visiting Angels means you’ll receive competitive wages, flexible scheduling, paid training, reimbursable mileage, bonus opportunities, and endless one-on-one client interactions. 

Please send us your application and reach out with any questions.