A direct care worker is a health care provider who works with clients such as people with disabilities or the elderly. They can work in a variety of settings, including private and group homes, skilled nursing facilities, and other medical facilities. Direct care workers need a variety of qualifications, from high school diplomas for personal aides to nursing degrees for those working in facilities such as Alzheimer’s wards. As advanced medical care improves survival rates and expands the base of people who may require assistance with daily tasks, this sector of the health care industry is frequently in a state of growth.
Patients are assigned to a direct care worker in all settings, who meets with them to review their needs. These allied health professionals can also meet with doctors and other care team members to discuss the case and any issues that may arise. Care workers can pinpoint exactly what kind of help someone requires and how it should be delivered. This can include medication administration and some treatments, as well as task assistance to help the patient maintain their independence.
Only people with medical training, such as nurses, are allowed to administer medication and perform procedures. In other cases, a direct care worker with no formal training can assist with activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Personal assistants can assist people in transferring from beds to wheelchairs, performing tasks, and taking care of their surroundings. In addition to providing personal health care, a direct care worker might help someone with dishes and sweeping around the house, as well as feeding pets.
The amount of training needed varies depending on the situation and the type of work done. Aides and orderlies can pick up important concepts on the job, but they can also attend short training sessions. These can include discussions about how to lift and move patients safely, as well as how to follow biohazard protocols to keep their clients safe. Nursing schools, which offer a variety of terminal degrees to students who plan to work in direct care, can provide more advanced training for direct care workers.
Some direct care workers are directly employed facilities and provide services on the premises. Others may work for companies that provide facility staffing or dispatch home health aides to those in need. It’s also possible to work independently, connecting with clients and developing relationships with them in order to maintain a steady flow of work. Because their clients do not have to pay for the overhead costs associated with agencies, independents are sometimes less expensive.