What does a Caregiver do?

Caregivers attend to the basic daily needs of clients. Some work independently in homes while others are employed at healthcare or long-term care facilities or by home health or caregiving agencies.

Their duties fill the gap between services provided by medical professionals and care administered by a client’s family and friends. By performing the duties established in a Caregiver job description, they contribute to the overall safety, health and wellbeing of clients.

Caregiver skills and qualifications

Some qualifications you might list in your Caregiver job details include:

• Basic understanding of common mental or physical health conditions, including dementia or diabetes

• Familiarity with the use of mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and walkers, and common household appliances, such as stoves, ovens, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers

• Basic medical knowledge (e.g., first aid, CPR)

• Knowledge of best practices for responding to medical emergencies and delivering client care

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Computer skills to use recordkeeping, email and other relevant software

• Ability to assist clients with walking, transferring, bathing and completing other daily tasks

• Attention to detail for monitoring health changes

• Organizational skills to maintain accurate records for multiple clients and manage medications

Caregiver experience requirements

Many Caregivers receive on-the-job training. The amount of experience you specify in your Caregiver job description will depend on the clients a new hire cares for.

For example, you may want to hire a more experienced Caregiver to handle patients with more advanced medical needs, such as patients with mobility challenges or dementia.

Caregiver education and training requirements

There are generally no formal education requirements for Caregivers, as new hires typically receive on-the-job training. Some states may require Caregivers to complete a minimum number of hours of on-the-job training, participate in state-approved training courses or receive training on specific topics during the onboarding process. Consider consulting the agency responsible for regulating your business before writing your Caregiver job description.

Some employers choose to make voluntary professional certifications mandatory or preferred qualifications in their Caregiver job details. Examples of relevant certifications include the Personal Care Assistant (PCA) credential granted by the American Caregiver Association (ACA) and the Certified Personal Care and Home Care Professional (CPCHCP) designation granted by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP).

Holding CPR and first aid certification may also be helpful for Caregivers.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this Caregiver job description doesn’t fully match your open position, you might check out these related jobs:

• Home Health Aide

• Nursing Assistant

• Patient Care Technician

Caregiver job description FAQs

What qualities make for a good Caregiver?

Individuals who are compassionate and friendly often perform well as Caregivers. Because their specific duties may vary daily, a Caregiver typically benefits from flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to change. Caregivers who deliver care in home settings generally need to be comfortable working independently with little supervision, while those employed in facilities typically work as a team.

Who does a Caregiver report to?

A Caregiver who works independently may report to the patient’s family members. They may also report to Case Managers or medical professionals responsible for the patient’s well-being. In a facility, Caregivers usually report to the Manager.

What’s the difference between a Caregiver and a Home Health Aide?

While the Home Health Aide and Caregiver job details involve assisting with daily living tasks, the focus of the two positions differs. Home Health Aides receive basic medical training for simple patient care tasks, including monitoring vital signs and changing bandages and dressings.

Caregivers focus more on housekeeping and providing companionship for clients. Their health-related duties are typically limited to medication management.