Many people in Australia need help with everyday tasks to live at home independently.
Home care assistants play a crucial role in Australia, enabling many individuals to live independently by providing high-quality care in their homes. Their support allows people to complete tasks that may be too challenging to do on their own, making a significant difference in the lives of those they assist.
Let’s examine the roles and responsibilities of home care assistants and the qualities and skills necessary for anyone considering this essential community role.
What Does a Home Care Worker Do?
Older adults or people living with a chronic illness are among the thousands who either don’t need to live in a care home full time or prefer not to – yet they still need a helping hand from a third party to live at home.
A home care worker – also called a home care assistant or home care aide—is responsible for providing this support. They visit a client at home regularly to help with everyday tasks. Some home care workers sleep at their clients’ homes if required, ensuring around-the-clock care and support.
Creating a single home care worker job description is nearly impossible since every client has different needs. That said, the ultimate objective of a home carer remains the same from one client to the next: to provide support at home for a person in need and improve their quality of life.
Home Care Worker Duties and Responsibilities
If you want to become a home care worker, prepare yourself for a truly varied and rewarding role. Looking after someone with specific needs can be highly rewarding, but it is equally demanding and requires significant attention and care.
Ultimately, the duties of a home care worker are about providing the correct support as and when it’s needed, helping the client live as independently as possible.
Every client has their reasons for seeking support, although they likely need home care based on their age or health. Older people often require help with physical aspects of their lives since they are no longer strong enough to cope with routine tasks like carrying heavy shopping bags, for example. A person with a disability or chronic illness might require help with meal preparation. Both the elderly and people with a disability may need assistance administering medication or daily tasks like taking a shower or bath.
It’s important to understand the key duties when caring for someone in their home, since they are different to the responsibilities of a care worker in a residential home where an entire team is on hand to help. Home care workers take on all support tasks, however challenging or straightforward.
Be prepared for these types of responsibilities as a home care worker:
Household and personal care
- Preparing snacks and meals
- Supervising eating and drinking
- Transporting to medical appointments
- Accompanying the client on social outings
- Running errands – grocery shopping, collecting medications from the pharmacy
- Administering medications
- Providing companionship
- Helping with bathing, dressing and toileting
- Cleaning and tidying the home
- Completing the laundry
- Communicating with clients and their families about their care and support needs
- Assisting with mobility in and around the home
- Monitoring the client’s health condition
- Emotional support
While a client relies on a home worker for all kinds of practical duties, we must never underestimate their role as a source of emotional support. Depending on the client’s family situation, a home care aide might be the only person a client sees from one day to the next and, as such, acts as a crucial sounding board for questions or merely as a companion.
Always remember that as a home care worker, you are operating within your client’s safe space and sanctuary, and it is essential that they continue to feel this way as you support them in their home.
Qualities of a Home Care Assistant
Several personal traits are common among people working in healthcare roles like home care assistants.
The main qualities to be successful in this role are:
- Patience: to help you keep a level head when dealing with clients who might become frustrated at their inability to complete tasks for themselves
- Communication skills: to deal with your client and many other people involved in their care – family, other carers, medical teams and government organisations
- Organisational skills: to ensure you complete tasks for your client in an effective, safe and timely manner
- Empathy: to show your client you care about their situation and want to achieve the best outcomes.
Getting the Right Skills for a Home Care Assistant Role
On top of personal attributes, working in healthcare requires various skills to support people effectively at home.
While some employers will provide training, completing a formal tertiary qualification is recommended to give yourself the best chance of finding work quickly. For example, CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) or CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) will teach you the relevant entry-level skills to become a Home Care Assistant.
By completing one of these Certificates in Individual Support, you will learn a broad range of skills, including how to:
- Empower the person receiving support
- Follow safe work practices
- Support clients properly with their independence and well-being
- Work legally and ethically
If you have trouble deciding between the Ageing or Disability Support stream, read our blog on how to choose which individual stream to study.
Are You Ready to Become a Home Care Worker?
If you are looking for a rewarding role helping people in the community, why not become a home care worker?
Insight Training provides comprehensive courses to help you begin your career as a home care worker.
Start your career today with Insight Training – contact us here.