Home Care Aides - Working Conditions

In a typical work setting, personal and home care aides:

Have a high level of social interaction. They work closely with clients most of the day.
Are responsible for the health and safety of their clients.
May on occasion be placed in conflict situations where they deal with unpleasant or angry clients.
Communicate with clients and supervisors daily by phone or in person.
[ More ]
Write letters and memos on a weekly basis. They record the client's condition and progress.
Work in a group or as part of a team.
Are somewhat responsible for the work done by other aides or assistants.

Often work indoors, but on occasion work outdoors. They travel to clients' homes, and sometimes accompany clients outside the home.
Work very near patients. They often work within inches of clients.
Often wear protective or safety attire, such as gloves.
Are often exposed to contaminants and diseases. They can avoid infection by following safety guidelines.

Must be exact when completing records so that supervisors are aware of clients' conditions. Errors could mean clients' do not receive the treatment they need.
Make decisions on a daily basis that affect clients'. They can make most decisions without talking to a supervisor.
Are usually able to set most tasks without consulting with a supervisor. This is because they do many of the same tasks daily.
Repeat the same physical and mental tasks.

Generally have a set schedule each week.
May work part time or full time, but most work less than 40 hours a week.
Often work weekend hours.
Travel to visit clients in their homes. They often visit four or five clients on the same day.