Understanding the Role of a Professional Caregiver

Professional caregivers play a vital role in the lives of aging seniors in their community. Without the assistance of a trained caregiver, many older adults could not live safely and comfortably in their homes. The rewards and benefits of caregiving are one of the driving forces that encourage individuals to start their careers as a caregiver. Still, for ultimate success, it’s essential to understand the role of a professional caregiver and how you fit into your clients' lives.

What is a Professional Caregiver?

A professional caregiver is a trained individual who assists clients with household and personal tasks. Many professional caregivers are at-home caregivers, meaning they work within a client’s home, helping with anything from light housekeeping and meal preparation to mobility assistance and personal grooming. 

It’s essential to distinguish between a professional caregiver and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). A professional caregiver provides non-medical assistance, meaning they cannot administer medications or change bandages. In contrast, a CNA can perform some medical tasks under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN).

Types of Care Provided by Professional Caregivers

Professional caregivers can provide various services depending on their expertise and the agency that employs them. At Visiting Angels, we deliver two primary types of services: companion care and personal care that encompass a number of options, click on the links below to learn more about what our Caregivers provide. 

• Companion care: A caregiver who provides companion care helps clients with non-medical activities that occur in daily living. These activities include laundry, light housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation, and grocery shopping.
• Personal care: Caregivers who provide personal care do all the services of companion care but with hands-on assistance such as walking, toileting, bathing, and dressing. 

In addition to companion and personal care, caregivers with Visiting Angels can provide specialty care for seniors with more demanding needs. Our specialty care services include palliative care, transitional care, social care, dementia care, and end-of-life care. 

• Palliative care: Some clients require emotional, social, and spiritual assistance, which professional caregivers can provide through palliative care. Clients living with chronic illnesses, regardless of life expectancy, are the ones who primarily request this type of care. 
• Transitional care: The goal of transitional care is to help clients reduce their chance of readmission after a hospital stay. The caregivers’ role in transitional care is to prepare the home for a client’s return and assist with non-medical tasks after discharge, like medication reminders and transportation to follow-up appointments. 
• Social care: We offer social care for seniors struggling with loneliness and isolation or who want to feel more connected with family and friends. Caregivers providing social care help clients utilize social media and smartphones to send texts, make calls, and compose emails. 
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s care: Clients with dementia, including Alzheimer’s, may need a more customized care approach. Many caregivers who provide dementia or Alzheimer’s care undergo additional training to feel confident in navigating the ever-evolving changes that come with this condition. 
• End-of-life care: Caregivers who provide end-of-life care work alongside hospice teams to provide emotional and spiritual support to clients and their families as they enter the final stages of life. 
  

Starting a Career with Visiting Angels 

If you think you’re ready to take the next step in becoming a professional caregiver, the team at Visiting Angels Wayzata would love to hear from you! If we feel you’re the right fit for our team, we’ll provide training, competitive pay, flexible scheduling, and bonus opportunities to ensure you have what you need for a successful career. 

Our Wayzata office hires part-time and full-time caregivers to assist seniors through Minneapolis and the West and Southwest communities. If you’d like to learn more about employment opportunities with Visiting Angels, complete our  application or call us at 952-935-0789.