FAQs About Being A Caregiver
What does a Caregiver do? +
A caregiver provides companionship and assistance to our elderly clients. Tasks of caregiving may include:
- Light housekeeping
- Laundry
- Meal planning and preparation
- Driving clients to appointments or take them shopping
- Shopping and running errands
- Assistance with sitting/standing or moving from one seat to another (example: from bed to wheelchair)
- Assistance with walking
- Assistance with showers
- Assistance with dressing
- Assistance with toileting and elimination
- Reminding client to take their medication
- Administering medications
- Basic nursing tasks such as blood pressure checks, or blood glucose levels check
- And much more… Each of our clients has different sets of needs so no two clients are exactly alike. One client may need a caregiver to visit twice a week to do some housekeeping, shopping and meal planning a preparation while a second client may have some mobility issues and need help every day with walking, getting in and out of the shower and getting dressed.
Where does a Caregiver work? +
Caregivers generally work independently in the homes of the clients, whether in a house, in an apartment or in the client’s room at an assisted living facility. Wherever our clients live, that’s where we work. A supervisor is available 24 hour by telephone to offer support for any on-the-job issues that may occur.
Our in home care services are offered throughout the mid Columbia Gorge, in Oregon. We aim to put caregivers to work as near to their home as possible to avoid long commutes to their job.
What are the hours like? +
Clients tell us what days and times they want a caregiver and we put caregivers to work based on that need. Caregivers are put to work only when there is work to be done. Generally, however a caregiver will have a regular schedule and we can work around your personal schedule. This can be a great job for students, or moms who have a few hours during the weekdays while kids are at school. The more flexible and available you are, the more frequently we can assign clients to you. Although we declare this work as part time, many of our caregivers are regularly working full-time hours every week.
What qualifications do I need to have? +
Some of our caregivers have a CNA certification. We have also employed CMAs, LPNs and RNs as caregivers. But most of our caregivers do not have any formal training in the medical field at all.
Applicants must have at least a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate. No other formal education is required. Caregivers must be able to speak, read and write English with proficiency. It’s preferable that caregivers have a current driver’s license and a clean driving record. Caregivers should have a reliable, insured car. Caregivers must be drug free (we do drug testing) and must have a clean background (we do criminal background checks). Applicants must demonstrate that they have a genuine desire to provide caring assistance for seniors. Experience is not necessary but it is desirable.
At Hearts of Gold Caregivers we are very particular about who we select to be on our team. Every applicant is carefully screened to ensure that we hire only those who meet our tough requirements. In short, we are looking for the “A” team.
What personal qualities make a good caregiver? +
Only people with high moral standards should apply for the position. To join the “A” team you must be trustworthy, reliable, honest, compassionate, caring, professional and giving. If you possess a heart of gold, waste no time and apply right away.
Will I be trained to be a caregiver? +
Yes! Although some of our caregivers come to us with some caregiving experience (such as CNA, CMA, LPN and RN), many haven’t any background in caregiving at all. At Hearts of Gold Caregivers, we are committed to providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to do the job. Even before a caregiver is allowed to enter a client’s home, they must go through Orientation and Initial Training.
How much will I be paid? +
Starting wages are from $16-$18 per hour depending upon experience. Plus there are benefits such as paid time off,retirement savings account with an employer match and flexible schedules.
How do I apply for the job? +
Fill out our online job application form. We will review your application and contact you, if we are interested, to interview you for the position. If you have been selected for an interview, it is important to arrive on time and dressed appropriately for the job interview.
Is a caregiving job going to be a good fit for me? +
At Hearts of Gold Caregivers, caregiving an honorable profession. It takes an exceptional person to meet our high standards, and we make a point of selecting those individuals who demonstrate a high degree of integrity, reliability, commitment, strong work ethic, and a genuine love for assisting the elderly. Our caregivers are proud to be members of the “A” team and strive to do their job professionally and to the best of their ability.
We are dedicated to building a strong team, and we expect our caregivers to be committed to meeting the needs of our clients and the responsibilities of their job. Therefore, employment with Hearts of Gold Caregivers is not well suited to those who want to use caregiving as a stop-gap job until the next employment opportunity comes along.
On a practical level, the nature of this work is occasionally sporadic – we can only put a caregiver to work when there is a client in need. Although caregivers generally have a regular schedule with the same clients, we cannot predict when circumstances will change and the schedule must be altered. The more reliable and flexible you are with your availability, the more hours you will likely be scheduled to work.