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Caregiving is also known as ‘caring’ or being a ‘care worker’, ‘caregiver’, ‘carer’ or 'home health aide'. In essence, it generally means seeing to the day-to-day needs of an older or disabled person by ensuring they have meals, are bathed, take their medication and have some social interaction. As populations in especially western countries age and people live longer than ever before, the need for carers has exploded. A caregiver generally lives with their client or patient in their home or provides day relief for relatives (known as ‘respite care’). Live-in caring work pays more but is also more stressful and can be lonely. Taking care of yourself is thus just as important as taking care of your client. We’ve included practical courses on how to look out for your stress levels and how to cope mentally. You can also take our short Workplace Wellbeing Assessment here to check in on your mental health and wellbeing.
In many countries, there is a degree of regulation and you need qualifications to be taken on by an agency that will place you with your patients. These qualifications include diplomas in healthcare and social work, which Alison offers. In addition, it is useful to have specialist knowledge of afflictions like dementia and malnutrition that often affect the elderly. Older people may suffer falls or need assistance getting out of beds or chairs so it’s important to know how to lift them properly so neither of you sustains an injury. Furthermore, it will boost your CV as a caregiver to have basic life support (BLS) and first aid skills under your belt. Browse our options below, create your free account and enrol in as many courses as you like to jumpstart your life as a care worker.
Depending on which country you want to work in, you will be required to prove you have training before taking a caregiving role. Be sure to check the requirements so that you can meet them. Training covers everything from the legal and ethical factors of looking after a vulnerable person in their own home to how to prepare for death. You need a basic understanding of common problems like kidney failure, incontinence, strokes, falls and diabetes. Our courses will also give you an overview of social work; even though you are not a social worker, it is vital to understand the types of support social workers can provide to your client.
Having basic medical skills is non-negotiable. After all, you are responsible for someone who may fall and cut themselves – could you pick them up, stop the bleeding, apply a bandage, practice infection control and achieve pain management? Could you do it all by yourself at 3am? Knowing foundational first aid and CPR is essential for caregivers so enrol today.
If you want more free courses about basical medical practices, please see our full Nursing Hub.
Dementia is the loss of cognitive functions such as memory, judgement, social skills and so on to the point where it negatively impacts a person’s life. It is common in the elderly and requires patience and knowledge to deal with. As a caregiver, you will have to implement a dementia care plan developed with the client’s doctors and family. This is a significant responsibility so do our free course on dementia for caregiver tips. According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 55 million people worldwide who live with dementia and it estimates that 10 million new cases will be diagnosed annually. Knowing how to look after someone with dementia is a valuable and in-demand skill.
For more information about mental health, please browse the free courses in our Mental Health Hub.
Could you easily and safely get another person out of a wheelchair? How about helping them from their bed to a commode, or providing support while they walk with a cane or stick? Do you know what to do if your patient falls? Health and safety is a crucial part of caring and all carers need to understand how to hold and move sometimes heavy, frail or paralysed people. If you do this incorrectly, you could injure your own back and hurt your client even more. Take our free courses for helpful methods and tips of working with mobility impaired patients.
Elderly people often have very reduced appetites because their sense of smell diminishes and they can’t taste much. They also don’t burn much energy. However, their ailments are worsened if they don’t eat properly. As a carer, you will have to be creative about preparing meals for your clients, balancing what is wholesome and nutritious with what will tempt them. You’ll also have to plan menus that they can cope with if they have shaky hands (will they be able to eat soup?), false teeth, intolerances, constipation, kidney failure or tracheotomies. Start will a selection of free nutrition courses below.
Click through to our Food and Cooking Hub for even more ideas and tips.
Soft skills are just as important as so-called hard ones. After all, you may not have to take a client’s blood pressure every day but you will have to talk to them every day. But what if they are from a different era and their culture, race, age and outlook is very different to yours? How will you find common ground and establish a friendly rapport? If you understand something of their psychology – that they may be shy, embarrassed, lonely, angry or depressed – it will help you communicate and empathise with them. If you are known to be a carer with a highly developed EQ, you could be recommended for higher paying or more prestigious positions.
If you would like to improve your English, we have fantastic free courses on our English Hub.
There’s a saying that goes, ‘You can’t care for others unless you look after yourself’. This is very true for professional care workers. In order to be cheerful, motivated and as unstressed as possible in what can be very exhausting circumstances, it is vital that you monitor your own mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Selfcare should be something you practise every day in the same way that you care for your client. As always, our free online courses will give you helpful ideas to ensure you don’t get so anxious, tired or frustrated that the level of care you provide is compromised.
For more free personal development courses, go to our comprehensive Personal Development Hub.
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