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Life As a Personal Care Aide
Career Description Assist the elderly, convalescents, or persons with disabilities with daily living activities at the person’s home or in a care facility. Duties performed at a place of residence may include keeping house (making beds, doing laundry, washing dishes) and preparing meals. May provide assistance at non-residential care facilities. May advise families, the elderly, convalescents, and persons with disabilities regarding such things as nutrition, cleanliness, and household activities.
Daily Life Of a Personal Care Aide
- Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.
- Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.
- Instruct or advise clients on issues such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care.
- Train family members to provide bedside care.
- Administer bedside or personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance.
- Transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians’ offices or on outings, using a motor vehicle.
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Things a Personal Care Aide Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Personal Care Aides say are important on the job.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Other Personal Care Aide Job Titles
- Personal Care Aide
- Home Health Care Provider
- Blind Aide
- Home Care Attendant
- Companion
Is There Going to be Demand for Personal Care Aides?
In the United States, there were 2,016,100 jobs for Personal Care Aide in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 38.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 777,700 new jobs for Personal Care Aide by 2026. The BLS estimates 414,300 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Personal Care Aide are Virginia, Arizona, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Maryland, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Personal Care Aide Salary
The salary for Personal Care Aides ranges between about $18,740 and $31,650 a year.
Personal Care Aides who work in Alaska, North Dakota, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Personal Care Aides make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $19,250 |
| Alaska | $33,840 |
| Arizona | $24,440 |
| Arkansas | $21,390 |
| California | $27,210 |
| Colorado | $26,410 |
| Connecticut | $27,300 |
| Delaware | $23,840 |
| District of Columbia | $30,440 |
| Florida | $23,390 |
| Georgia | $22,540 |
| Hawaii | $27,530 |
| Idaho | $22,970 |
| Illinois | $24,600 |
| Indiana | $22,830 |
| Iowa | $25,050 |
| Kansas | $21,920 |
| Kentucky | $25,740 |
| Louisiana | $19,300 |
| Maine | $25,490 |
| Maryland | $26,910 |
| Massachusetts | $29,080 |
| Michigan | $24,230 |
| Minnesota | $26,260 |
| Mississippi | $20,800 |
| Missouri | $23,020 |
| Montana | $24,250 |
| Nebraska | $26,230 |
| Nevada | $23,580 |
| New Hampshire | $26,900 |
| New Jersey | $29,890 |
| New Mexico | $21,020 |
| New York | $27,640 |
| North Carolina | $21,660 |
| North Dakota | $32,890 |
| Ohio | $23,530 |
| Oklahoma | $20,270 |
| Oregon | $26,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $24,880 |
| Rhode Island | $27,190 |
| South Carolina | $20,990 |
| South Dakota | $24,400 |
| Tennessee | $21,060 |
| Texas | $19,960 |
| Utah | $25,740 |
| Vermont | $30,750 |
| Virginia | $21,240 |
| Washington | $29,140 |
| West Virginia | $20,760 |
| Wisconsin | $24,250 |
| Wyoming | $26,780 |
What Tools do Personal Care Aides Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Personal Care Aides:
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- MEDITECH software
Becoming a Personal Care Aide
What education or degrees do I need to become a Personal Care Aide?
What work experience do I need to become a Personal Care Aide?
Where Personal Care Aides Work
Personal Care Aides work in the following industries:
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Personal Care Aide might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Personal Care Aide in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
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