What Does It Take To Become an In Home Caregiver?
There isn’t just one quality that makes an excellent in-home caregiver. But chief among the top qualities are a passion to help others, reliability, trustworthiness and a desire to help make a difference in the communities in which we live. At Visiting Angels, we know that people from all types of background, and people of all ages, make wonderful caregivers. Whether they have many years of experience, or are a CNA with a newfound passion for in-home caregiving, they can be excellent caregivers. And no matter the experience level, we at Visiting Angels offer training and continuing education to ensure we are providing the best possible support to our employees and service to our clients. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are considering becoming an in-home caregiver.
Who Are Caregivers?
There isn’t just one path that leads someone to become a caregiver. Some are empty nesters. Some are in college. Many of our caregivers are students working toward a CNA or a nursing degree. Many of our employees are pre-professional students who need direct caregiving hours, and have fallen in love with working with seniors in their community. Some took a completely different career path, and realized they wanted to do something to help others instead, so they’ve switched to caregiving. And some are retirees who had a different path for many years, but now are looking for a way to help others.
We have many caregivers who’ve come to us after a lifetime of caring for their children and their spouse. But now their children are grown, or maybe their spouse has died, and they are giving their compassionate care to seniors in the area. Others have cared for ailing and aging parents, or for a friend, and now want to make a career of it.
Our caregivers find that entering into this field is rewarding, as well as flexible. They can take on as many or as few clients as they have time for, and work the number of hours they want. They can specialize in certain areas of caregiving, such as Dementia care or simply companion care. We even have tech experts, who help our seniors through our social care program.
While our caregivers do have a variety of backgrounds and experiences, we do have specific standards we hold our employees to, require specific certifications and do a thorough background check before they are brought on board.
Once You Join Us
Once you become a Visiting Angels home caregiver, you will learn the practices that have made us such a well-known and trusted caregiving agency in Pennsylvania. We have in-depth training for our employees, and match them with clients that need their specific skill set. We have clients throughout Eastern Montgomery County, and can work with employees to find clients near their homes.
Visiting Angels can offer benefits. Our caregivers also get competitive hourly wages, flexible hours, referral bonuses and a congenial work environment that can lead to a rewarding career path with opportunity for growth.
Many caregivers also find their jobs rewarding, because they know they are helping local seniors age safely in the homes they’ve known and loved for so long. While it can be challenging, it also can be a feel-good job, where you know that you are making a difference in the lives of others. Often our clients look forward to and perk up once their caregivers arrive and are in the home. Many have years-long working relationships as client and caregiver, and become trusted companions.
Always Here to Help
Visiting Angels Horsham has expert caregivers on staff who are professionally trained to help seniors age safely in place. Our compassionate employees help with everything from bathing to dressing seniors each morning, to providing companionship. They also can help with specialty care, such as dementia care, ensuring seniors walk safely throughout their homes and social care.
We serve seniors in the Horsham area, including in Willow Grove, Ambler, Lower Gwynedd, Spring House and the surrounding areas. To find out more about how we can help the seniors in your lives, contact us online or by calling us at (215) 770-0861.
If you are ready to help care for seniors in the area, we are always on the lookout for compassionate caregivers. Contact us for information and to get started.