The Dos and Don’ts of Being a PCA: Do Embrace Challenges

Challenges and obstacles are an unavoidable part of being a personal care assistant. These challenges not only present a real danger for the home care patient but also the personal care assistant as they work to provide quality home care. Instead of shying away from these challenges, a home care professional should embrace them by learning as much as they can about and preparing for the problem at hand. A past Best Home Care blog provided links to some great resources that home caregivers can use to prepare for the many challenges that come with providing home care services.

A 2013 survey looked into the top challenges facing home care workers in England. Of the 1,440 respondents, 74% cited time constraints as their largest challenge, followed by low pay at 67% and lack of PCA training at 56%. These three topics are also very common among home care workers in the United States. Here are some ways to embrace and prepare for these challenges:

Lack of Time: Planning is an essential part of being a personal care assistant. Schedule every task you must complete each day and plan out your week ahead of time, then stick to it! Be sure to take time to do something you enjoy each day.

Low Pay: The majority of family caregivers who provide home care to their loved one do not expect anything in return. However, there are many ways to get paid for taking care of a family member that caregivers should take advantage of and benefit from.

Insufficient Training: Best Home Care offers comprehensive PCA training for all their personal care assistants. The home care agency also provides caregiver resources that will help you provide the best home care possible.

As with any challenge life throws, it’s best to have a confidant and ally you can depend on to embrace it with you. For over a decade, Best Home Care has been guiding personal care assistants through the often-murky waters of at-home care. Contact us to learn how we can help you today!

Try the Updated Best Home Care Timesheet App

In an effort to make providing and receiving home care services from Best Home Care easy and convenient, we have updated our Timesheet App. Changes to the app include a new saved profile feature and an easier-to-use time entry page. Click here to download our app now!