On-Time Arrival: Always arrive on time or a few minutes early for your caregiver job. Call the caregiver job supervisor immediately if you are running late.
Always Call the Senior Client by Their Last Name: such as Mrs. Smith, unless the client tells you it is acceptable to call them by their first name.
Get Acquainted: this is your first task. Make the senior feel comfortable and relaxed. Thank them for allowing you to work with them and let them know you are glad to have the opportunity to be their caregiver. Ask them to tell you about themselves and their preferences and share some of your interests.
Review the Care Plan: this is your reference tool and where you will document the care in a Care Plan documentation log. Make sure you discuss with the senior client where to keep it and be sure to refer to it each day and to record care plan notes.
Discuss the Senior’s Meals and Favorite Foods: Begin to understand the dietary requirements of the senior and learn the nutrition guidelines.
Never Touch Pills or Medication: including non-prescription drugs.
Do Not Give Your Friends or Family the Senior Client’s Phone Number: If your family has an emergency or needs to reach you at work, have them call the senior care company office and they will contact you.
Cell phone: do not receive or make calls from your cell phone while at work. Your cellular or mobile phone should be turned off and out of sight, unless told differently by your agency.
Do not Solicit Money at Any Time, for Any Reason: from senior clients or family members. Any senior shopping needs will be managed by a Care Manager or Supervisor.
Never Come To Work Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs: random drug tests can be conducted at anytime.
Professional Caregiver Protocol
The word “professionalism” means good judgement, skills, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well.
As a professional caregiver, you will want to conduct yourself with good manners and take responsibility for delivering quality care, no matter if you are experiencing a good or bad day in your personal life. You will set a tone of integrity by always showing up on time, dressing appropriately and communicating effectively with your clients, coworkers and managers.
Professional caregivers demonstrate:
Solid Work Ethic
Appropriate Personal Appearance
Self-Confidence
Ability to Communicate and Listen
Ability to Maintain Composure in Difficult Situations
Compatible with All Personality Types
Focuses on Getting the Job Done
Always be professional with your clients, co-workers, managers, (and onsite staff).
Caregiver Job Description
As a professional caregiver, you will be given specific job duties and a routine to follow for each client. As each client’s care schedule, medical conditions and needs may vary, you will be provided with a Plan of Care for each client.
Follow the outlined Job Description in order to deliver quality care.
Your daily care plan for each client will be customized.
Assist with walking and light exercise
Plan and prepare meals, followed by clean-up
Monitor food expiration dates, plan future meals
Make beds and change linens, as needed
Light housekeeping to include dusting and vacuuming
Assist with bathing, dressing and grooming
Laundry and ironing
Take out garbage
Run errands (pick up prescriptions, dry cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.)
Engage in physical and mental exercises
Provide medication reminders (monitor medication)
Escort on appointments with necessary updates (physical therapy, hair salon, etc.)
Escort to religious services or events
Maintain calendar and organize mail
Engage in activities (games, memory books, etc.)
Companionship
Record daily care notes
Report and significant client changes to the Senior Care Company office
Hourly Caregivers: Report to work at client’s home or assisted living community or senior care center and work for the scheduled hours of service. Receive hourly pay for the number of hours worked.
24-hour Caregivers: Term used for caregivers who may report to work at client’s home and stay over-night with the senior for one or more nights, taking a break for down-time in the evening and sleeping at night. Meals are usually provided by the client along with the costs of any shared activities with the senior. Sometimes seniors receiving end-of-life care will progress to needing active caregiving around-the-clock which will require a rotation of a day and night caregiver.
Medication Monitoring: Senior caregivers must take extra care to monitor the senior’s medications according to the Care Plan. Medication reminders are important part of senior care. When a variety of medications are prescribed, taking the medications at the scheduled time and in the proper manner is very important for the medication to have the proper results. Example: medications may be prescribed to be taken with food or on an empty stomach or before bedtime. Medication monitoring simply means following a medication schedule. Caregivers do NOT administer medication as only a medical doctor may prescribe medications and authorize a registered nurse to administer doses in some cases. Caregivers will document in the Care Plan the medications taken and the time the medications were taken and also record any side effects they may notice when a new medication begins.
Medication Problems: Sometimes seniors who have memory loss or other issues may refuse to take their medicine as prescribed. Call you Care Manager for advice and guidance on how to handle the situation. An experienced Care Manage can provide coaching on how to best convince the senior to take their medication as prescribed. Sometimes doctors will prescribe a medication in a liquid for or change a does if the senior has adversity to taking a pill.
💡 Tip Sheet
Arrive 5 minutes early, Never Touch Pills, Never Solicit Money, Get Acquainted, Turn Cell Phone Off, Never Come To Work Hungover, Job Description Duties, Hourly Caregivers Hourly Pay, Live-in Caregivers DO NOT Move-in Permanently with the Senior, Monitor Medications, Write Care Notes Everyday, DO NOT Administer Medications