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Personal Care Aide

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What Do Personal Care Aide Do?

Personal Care Aide Job 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

  • Transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians’ offices or on outings, using a motor vehicle.
  • Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.
  • Plan, shop for, or prepare nutritious meals or assist families in planning, shopping for, or preparing nutritious meals.
  • Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.
  • Provide clients with communication assistance, typing their correspondence or obtaining information for them.
  • Train family members to provide bedside care.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Personal Care Aide?

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.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Types of Personal Care Aide

  • Geriatric Aide
  • Direct Support Professional
  • Guardian Family Member
  • Resident Care Assistant (RCA)
  • Family Member Caretaker

Personal Care Aide Job Outlook

There were about 2,016,100 jobs for Personal Care Aide in 2016 (in the United States). 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 414,300 job openings in this field each year.

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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.

What is the Average Salary of a Personal Care Aide

The average yearly salary of a Personal Care Aide ranges between $18,740 and $31,650.

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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 different U.S. states?

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 & Technology do Personal Care Aides Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Personal Care Aides may use on a daily basis:

  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • MEDITECH software

How to Become a Personal Care Aide

Are there Personal Care Aides education requirements?

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What work experience do I need to become a Personal Care Aide?

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Where do Personal Care Aides Work?

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Below are examples of industries where Personal Care Aides work:

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming a Personal Care Aide might also be interested in the following careers:

Those who work as a Personal Care Aide sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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