The job of caregiver (or personal assistant or caregiver , maintaining Englishism) is a profession as delicate as it is fundamental for many categories of people. It provides assistance to young or adult people who, for various reasons, need to be accompanied in daily activities such as dressing, washing, preparing meals or carrying out daily errands outside the home.

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If you are reliable and willing to take care of another person, perhaps you are considering the possibility of working as a caregiver. However, it is important to consider that reliability and kindness are not enough to do this job well: in this article we explain how to get started with this profession, what are the most requested tasks and the essential requirements.

Personal assistance: a simple definition that includes multiple tasks

The term personal assistance may seem like a simple and straightforward definition that describes itself. In fact, it includes a diverse world and a huge diversity of jobs that depend on the type of person you work with.

First of all, it is important to specify that we are talking about a profession in the field of domestic work : the duties of a caregiver are of a non-health character and are carried out at home , in the family environment of the assisted person.

Those who work as caregivers often carry out tasks that enter a very intimate and private sphere of the assisted person: personal hygiene, meal times or daily dressing. & nbsp;

The professionalism of a caregiver can be requested by different categories of people:

  • Persons who are not self-sufficient due to a permanent disability.
  • Persons who are not self-sufficient due to a temporary disability , such as an accident .
  • Self-sufficient people who live alone and need company .

This is why people of all ages and with very different motivations rely on the services of a carer.
Before starting to look for work in this field, it is therefore important to ask yourself questions and try to understand if there are situations that make you more comfortable than others. & nbsp;

Do you prefer to work with young or old people?

Do you prefer to assist self-sufficient or non-self-sufficient people?

Are you willing to spend most of your days in another person’s house or, possibly, to live permanently with the person you assist?

What are the requirements for working as a caregiver?

By searching online job boards, it’s easy to see how diverse the demand for people working as carers is. & nbsp;

Some job offers require specific qualifications or special training to assist certain categories of people. & nbsp;

In the case of people with certain diseases or disabilities, for example, a qualification in the socio-health sector may be required. & nbsp;

In general, you may need a high school diploma, special certification or driver’s license – it all depends on the needs of the person being assisted.

Among the main services required to those who work as a caregiver, we can list the following tasks :

  • The planning, preparation and administration of meals.
  • Purchase of groceries in the supermarket or medicines in the pharmacy.
  • Accompaniment of the assisted person in his activities daily, errands outside the home or medical visits.
  • Assistance in hygiene and personal care (bath, shower, body and face care, etc.).
  • Assistance in daily clothing.
  • Entertainment (company, reading aloud, etc.).
  • Reading housekeeping.
  • Laundry management.
  • Administration of medicines according to medical prescriptions.

Without a doubt, a fundamental part of the caregiver’s job has to do with the professional’s personal qualities . & nbsp;

Reliability and kindness are the first two essential characteristics, but these should also be accompanied by other skills:

  • Treat and care for the assisted person and their properties with dignity and respect.
  • Adapt to different environments and lifestyles.
  • Communicate in a friendly, respectful way and empathetic.
  • Flexibility and punctuality.

These lists are just a starting point to guide you through the requirements and tasks required to work in personal care.

However, each assisted person is different and has specific needs. This is why it is essential to investigate the needs of the client in advance, already during the interview: only in this way can you avoid misunderstandings and unpleasant situations that could compromise your collaboration.

Have a nice job!