Personal care aides help clients with self-care and everyday tasks. They also provide social supports and assistance that enable clients to participate in their communities.
Duties
Personal care aides typically do the following:
Care for and assist clients with cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's or mental illness
Engage clients by talking to or playing games with them, or by taking them for walks
Help clients with hygiene-related tasks, such as bathing, brushing teeth, and going to the bathroom
Transfer clients to and from a bed or a wheelchair
Complete housekeeping tasks, such as changing bed linens, washing dishes, and cleaning living areas
Help prepare and plan meals
Assist with organizing a client's schedule and schedule appointments
Arrange transportation to and from doctors' offices or the store
Help clients pay bills or manage money
Shop for personal items and groceries
Assist clients in going to work and participating in their communities
Personal care aides—also called caregivers and personal attendants—help clients with self-care and daily activities. Personal care aides perform tasks that are similar to those of home health aides. However, personal care aides cannot provide any medical services, whereas home health aides may provide basic medical services.
Direct support professionals work with people who have developmental or intellectual disabilities. They may help create a behavior plan and teach self-care skills, such as doing laundry or cooking meals. They may also provide other personal assistance services.