All About Personal Care Aides
Position 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.
A Day in the Life of a Personal Care Aide
- Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.
- Plan, shop for, or prepare nutritious meals or assist families in planning, shopping for, or preparing nutritious meals.
- Transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians’ offices or on outings, using a motor vehicle.
- Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client’s needs and plan for continuing services.
- Train family members to provide bedside care.
- Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.
What a Personal Care Aide Should Know
When polled, Personal Care Aides say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Other Personal Care Aide Job Titles
- Direct Care Worker
- Patient Sitter
- Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
- Medication Aide
- Live in Caregiver
Job Opportunities for Personal Care Aides
There were about 2,016,100 jobs for Personal Care Aides in 2016 (in the United States).
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 38.6% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 777,600 new jobs for Personal Care Aides by 2026. The BLS estimates 414,300 yearly job openings in this field per year.
The states with the most job growth for Personal Care Aides are California, Texas, and New York.
Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Delaware, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for Personal Care Aides
The typical yearly salary for Personal Care Aides is somewhere between $18,740 and $31,650. The median salary is $24,020.
How much do Personal Care Aides make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
Alaska |
$33,840 |
|
North Dakota |
$32,890 |
|
Vermont |
$30,750 |
|
District of Columbia |
$30,440 |
|
New Jersey |
$29,890 |
|
Washington |
$29,140 |
|
Massachusetts |
$29,080 |
|
New York |
$27,640 |
|
Hawaii |
$27,530 |
|
Connecticut |
$27,300 |
|
California |
$27,210 |
|
Rhode Island |
$27,190 |
|
Oregon |
$26,980 |
|
Maryland |
$26,910 |
|
New Hampshire |
$26,900 |
|
Wyoming |
$26,780 |
|
Colorado |
$26,410 |
|
Minnesota |
$26,260 |
|
Nebraska |
$26,230 |
|
Utah |
$25,740 |
|
Kentucky |
$25,740 |
|
Maine |
$25,490 |
|
Iowa |
$25,050 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$24,880 |
|
Illinois |
$24,600 |
|
Arizona |
$24,440 |
|
South Dakota |
$24,400 |
|
Wisconsin |
$24,250 |
|
Montana |
$24,250 |
|
Michigan |
$24,230 |
|
Delaware |
$23,840 |
|
Nevada |
$23,580 |
|
Ohio |
$23,530 |
|
Florida |
$23,390 |
|
Missouri |
$23,020 |
|
Idaho |
$22,970 |
|
Indiana |
$22,830 |
|
Georgia |
$22,540 |
|
Kansas |
$21,920 |
|
North Carolina |
$21,660 |
|
Arkansas |
$21,390 |
|
Virginia |
$21,240 |
|
Tennessee |
$21,060 |
|
New Mexico |
$21,020 |
|
South Carolina |
$20,990 |
|
Mississippi |
$20,800 |
|
West Virginia |
$20,760 |
|
Oklahoma |
$20,270 |
|
Texas |
$19,960 |
|
Louisiana |
$19,300 |
|
Alabama |
$19,250 |
What Tools 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:
- MEDITECH software
How do I Become a Personal Care Aide?
Learn what Personal Care Aide education requirements there are.
How Long Does it Take to Become Personal Care Aide?
Where do Personal Care Aides Work?
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Personal Care Aide may also be interested in:
- Occupational Therapy Assistants
Are you already one of the many Personal Care Aides in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- Flight Attendants
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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