What to Expect From an Average Day as an In-Home Caregiver

Working as an in-home caregiver can be a rewarding way to give back to your community.

As more and more members of our communities reach their senior years, the demand for in-home caregivers has increased. You may be considering making caregiving your career but aren’t entirely sure what to expect from the job, or if you’re even qualified. The good news is, even without previous experience as an in-home caregiver, you might be more qualified for this rewarding career than you think. 

Caregivers generally possess a unifying series of traits that form the foundation of their vocation, including compassion, responsibility, patience, and an interest in making a difference in their local communities. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are drawn to caregiving due to the job’s flexibility, variety, and service-oriented nature. 

So what can you expect from a day in the life of an in-home caregiver? While schedules vary from day to day and client to client (that’s part of the fun!), here’s a sampling of what an average day might look like. 

If you’re working a morning shift, your day will generally start with you helping your client get out of bed, get dressed, and get ready for the day. You’ll prepare breakfast and tidy up afterwards, and maybe chat with your client about what the day has in store. Early afternoon is a great time to run errands together and clean up around the house. By noon, you’ll both be hungry, so that’s the perfect time to prepare lunch and enjoy a little more quality time together. Late afternoon might be filled with leisure activities like doing a jigsaw puzzle together or looking through an old scrapbook, or maybe a nap or other quiet activity.
A caregiver’s evening routine is similar, with some key differences. You might arrive in time to prepare dinner and catch up with your client about his or her day, then clear the dishes for some evening activities. You could watch a film together, work on a craft, or read a book out loud. Bedtime means helping your client get bathed, groomed, and dressed for bed. When you leave the house, you’ll be responsible for locking up and making sure the premises are safe and secure for your sleeping client. 

Now that you have a taste of what a day in the life of a caregiver is like, consider taking the next step and reaching out to a trusted home care provider such as Hired Hands Homecare to learn more about their openings and training opportunities. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming an in-home caregiver, contact the aging care experts at Hired Hands Homecare, the premier San Rafael home care provider who also provides care in several surrounding areas. Hired Hands Homecare is always looking for enthusiastic, compassionate candidates to add to their caregiving team.