If you’re looking on how to become a caregiver in Pennsylvania, this guide by the home caregiver agency, JEVS Care at Home, takes you through the requirements, the timeline, and basic duties you need to know.
What Is a Caregiver?
A caregiver is a person who takes on the responsibility of caring for a loved one or eligible person. They provide meaningful care to those who need it, from companionship, medication assistance, and general personal care. Their job is essential and rewarding to help people continue to live independently when they might not be able to otherwise.
How to Become a Caregiver in PA
To become a caregiver in Pennsylvania, you must live in the state and be over the age of 18. If you meet those requirements, all you need to do is pursue the necessary training and certifications.
JEVS Care at Home streamlines the process by providing you with the information you need to start training and pursuing a certification. Our resources will help guide you through the process of becoming a caregiver in Pennsylvania. If you’re interested in starting your career in home care, visit our page on applying to become a caregiver.
Requirements to Become a Caregiver in PA
In most cases, the requirements to be a caregiver in PA are just completion of training and achieving a certification. The caregiver must also be over the age of 18 and living in the state of Pennsylvania.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Caregiver?
According to the Professional Association of Caregivers, to become a caregiver, you will only need to take an 8hr certification course. The course covers everything from responsibilities, protocol, communication skills, precautions, procedures, and everything else you need to know to care for someone properly.
Compensation for Being a Caregiver in PA
Compensation can come from a variety of sources. Medicaid has several programs you can enroll in to acquire payment to care for a loved one. In addition, companies like JEVS can bring you in as an employee, which entitles you to benefits and pay for your work.
Check out our other article on how a family member can get paid to be a caregiver in Pennsylvania for more information.
Services Caregivers Provide
Caregivers provide you with the opportunity to continue living in your home for as long as possible. They help seniors with everyday activities to maintain their independence and provide worthwhile companionship.
Personal Care
Caregivers can be responsible for assisting seniors with bathing, dressing, grooming, movement, and more. The point is to alleviate the stress of daily activities, ensure proper hygiene, and to reduce the risk of injury in the home.
Housekeeping
Keeping the home or space clean is an essential part of the job. Duties like washing dishes, laundry, dusting, disinfecting, lifting household items, and much more to keep the home a safe, healthy environment to live in are common everyday activities for the caregiver.
Meal Prep
In addition to preparing meals, caregivers can also maintain healthy diets and grocery shop for the home.
Medication Reminders
Caregivers create peace of mind for the client and their loved ones by assisting the client in taking their prescribed medication at the correct times.
Companionship
In addition to the service-based tasks, caregivers develop a nurturing relationship with their clients through engaging, listening, and empathizing with them. Not only does this fill a void for some seniors, but it also provides the caregiver with a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Challenges of Being a Caregiver
As a caregiver, there are unforeseen challenges which come with caring for another person or family member. The emotional and mental strain the duties and relationships have weighs heavily on most. The duties can take up a lot of time, depending on the needs of those needing care, which can lead to social isolation. Time management, privacy, and sleep deprivation are all common with live-in caregivers.
These challenges are manageable. Be sure to ask for help when you need it. When you are doing better, your care will improve with it.
How JEVS Care at Home Can Help
At JEVS, we combine all factors of becoming and being a caregiver into one place. We work with you to achieve the training and certifications you need to get started. You’ll also receive the tools and support to succeed with your patients. In addition, JEVS offers benefits and competitive pay for our caregivers.
