Personal Support Worker

Working as a Live-in Caregiver After Personal Support Worker School

February 02, 2018

personal support worker helping patient

For some elderly or disabled individuals, staying at home is important. They can be close to beloved family members, be near familiar surroundings, and enjoy the sense of independence that can come with staying in their home. However, medical conditions and overall health can make staying at home safely and with dignity more and more difficult. Clients may have difficulty navigating stairs, completing regular hygiene, and managing other routine tasks.

Live-in caregivers therefore can help to offer the best of both worlds, providing ongoing essential care while also allowing clients to stay within their homes. Such a role can result in highly rewarding work for a qualified personal support worker (PSW).

Here is an overview of what this career path entails, and why new graduates may want to pursue it.

Why Grads of Personal Support Worker Courses Are Well-Equipped to Deliver Home Care

Graduates of PSW programs are well-equipped to deliver the kind of responsible and diligent personal care that this role demands. In fact, qualified PSWs make such ideally qualified candidates for live-in care that PSW qualification is often actively sought by those organizations sourcing personnel to deliver this service. This is because in-depth courses and hands-on experience, included in top PSW programs, give graduates a firm understanding of the many responsibilities this position entails.

Elderly woman enjoys her PSW

Many agencies that supply live-in care will actively seek those with PSW qualifications

Grads of PSW Courses Can Expect Diverse Duties From Live-in Care

Within a live-in scenario, the caregiver must assume the role of a capable and self-sufficient professional. Unlike institutional work, which often features a team of graduates from a PSW course working alongside each other, the caregiver in the home scenario is a more independent worker.

The live-in caregiver can sometimes be the sole individual at the property who is physically capable, and might therefore need to carry out tasks like meal preparation, housekeeping, eating assistance, bathing, laundry, and bedside care. Additionally, the caregiver can sometimes be the sole individual with whom the client interacts with on a daily basis, which means that good social skills and rapport-building will be of considerable importance. Respect and understanding are always the basis on which graduates of personal support worker school provide care, which can make all the difference for the clients who look forward to their interactions each day.

A Challenging as Well as Rewarding Option for Graduates of Personal Support Worker School

The reality of many live-in positions is that clients will often require over-night care, so PSWs who opt for this work must be prepared for the “always on” aspect that this role can sometimes entail. While the “always on” nature of this work can make it challenging, the ability to truly make a difference in the lives of others, and help a client feel safe and secure at home, can make this a truly rewarding prospect. This kind of work can be some of the most rewarding in the field, with professionals given the opportunity to forge close and caring bonds with individual clients.

Do you want to help clients live at home longer, with both comfort and dignity?

Contact us at Medix to learn how personal support worker courses are a great way to achieve your career goals.

Visit Our Blog Directory