Personal care aides provide services to elderly, disabled, and ill clients so they can live in their own homes.

Personal care aides help people do tasks they cannot do for themselves. Their help allows people to live at home instead of in a health facility. Most aides work with elderly or disabled clients who need more care than family or friends can provide.

Some aides work with families when a parent is ill and small children need care. Others help patients who are discharged from the hospital and need short-term help.

Aides help clients complete daily personal tasks, including:

• Bathing
• Eating
• Dressing
• Walking

Personal care aides also do light housekeeping tasks such as laundry and changing bed linens. Some aides plan meals (including special diets), shop for food, and cook.

Aides sometimes take clients to doctor appointments or out to buy groceries.

Personal care aides may work directly for a client or a client's family. They also work for a social service or nursing agencies where they are supervised by a social worker or nurse.

Under the supervision of a nurse or other medical professional, some care aides provide help with medication and taking vital signs. They record the client's condition and progress to the supervisor. In addition, aides may participate in case reviews with the team caring for the client.