California caregivers just began the process of meeting the new state caregiver training requirement for 10 hours of training for a caregiver’s first year of working and 5 hours of annual caregiver training in core competencies and many states in the U.S.A. do require caregiver training. Online caregiver training is acceptable and enables caregivers to maintain certification training each year. View California caregiver training requirements and purchase online training.
Senior Caregiver Certification Training Explained
Caregiving has become a profession, and like all professions, regulations have followed by state governments. The regulations provide guidelines for companies and individual caregivers to follow in an effort to maintain quality standards and safety for both the caregivers and the senior. And, of course, the state governments also collect fees to manage and enforce their regulations.
More and more states are passing legislation to require caregiver training as more than 10,000 Americans turn age 65 daily. The national home caregiving association created a baseline for caregiver training requirements and worked with their association members in each state to present legislation requiring training and licensing. Some state governments passed legislation outlining specific requirements for caregiver training while other states just said training is required. Meanwhile some states still have legislation pending.
What caregiver training is now required (as of August 2016) in each state?
Basic caregiver training skills are a standard requirement by licensed senior care companies, including national corporations and franchise companies with locations nationwide. If the state the senior care company operates in also requires training, then the company must follow the state’s training laws.
California: just passed Assembly Bill 1217 requiring 10 hours of caregiver training for new caregivers and 5 hours of annual training: first 5 hours include 2 hours of Orientation Training and 3 hours of Safety Training and the 5 hours of annual training can be in Core Competency skills.
Review the professional senior caregiver training laws in your state and purchase online caregiver training to become a certified senior caregiver.
What are a caregiver’s job duties?
Senior caregivers provide many, many services to seniors. Anyone entering the senior care industry quickly learns there are a wide variety of caregiver jobs and caregiver job duties. Sometimes it can be a surprise to learn that professional caregivers must meet certain certification standards by taking training courses meeting state requirements. Then the caregiver must pass a competency test to verify their knowledge.
Caregiver job duties include the following:
- Assisting with Activities of Daily Living (often called “ADL’s – see, senior care has hip abbreviations too. Definition of ADL = basic activities you do each day, such as getting up and showering, getting dressed, eating your meals, taking your medications, scheduling appointments, doing laundry, grabbing your mail….you get the idea – anything that can be difficult to do when you have health and mobility issues that limit your capabilities.
- Personal Care: bathing and toileting assistance
- Transfer and Mobility Assistance
- Meal Preparation and Assistance
- ADL assistant with bathing, dressing and grooming
- Medication Reminders
- Appointment Scheduling
- Errands
- Companionship
- Maintaining Daily Care Notes
- Specific tasks for Medical Conditions
- Engaging in Physical and Mental Activities
Caregivers may begin caregiver training in the basic skills with an online course and continue learning by reading books and watching movies to understand how caregiving can be a unique journey for everyone.
Online Caregiver Training
Professional Association of Caregivers membership includes basic caregiver training through an online course powered by Caregiver Training University.
The basic caregiver training includes the following topics:
Training Modules
- Caregiver Job Responsibilities and Protocol
- Senior Caregiver Job Description
- Communication Skills
- CARE PLAN and Care Plan Notes and Activities
- Personal Care and Toileting
- Adaptive Equipment for Transfers (Gait Belts and Lifts)
- Basic Hygiene and Basic Infection Control
- Maintaining a Clean, Safe and Healthy Environment
- Basic Personal and Environmental Safety Precautions
- Emergency Procedures, Including Basic First Aid and Client’s Emergency Preparedness Plan
- Confidentiality of Client Personal, Financial and Health Information HIPAA
- Understanding Abuse and Neglect
- Bonus Section: Stroke Care
Join P.A.C. and get online caregiver training.
Professional Association of Caregivers Code of Ethics
Professional Association of Caregivers members agree to follow these ethics as senior caregivers:
- I will always treat my clients with kindness and respect.
- I will always arrive at the client’s home on time, preferably 5 minutes before the start of my scheduled hours. If I might be late, I will immediately call.
- I will follow the Plan of Care each day for my client.
- I will maintain a clean and organized home for my client.
- I will never leave my client unattended. If the relief caregiver is late I will immediately call the Care Manager.
- I will address my client by their last name unless they invite me to use their first name.
- I will honor the client’s right to privacy and confidentiality, including their identity, address, and telephone number.
- I will keep my religious beliefs, political choices, or personal issues private and likewise respect my client’s beliefs.
- I will call 911 immediately when there is a medical emergency and then call my senior care company office or Care Manager.
- I will not engage in financial transactions nor intimate relationships with a client or family member.
- I will never use alcohol or illegal drugs as a professional caregiver.
- I will only use my personal mobile phone for calls and texts during rest or break periods.
Join Professional Association of Caregivers
Professional Association of Caregivers
Join Professional Association of Caregivers (P.A.C.)
Increase your caregiver qualifications and become part of a community. It’s simple and easy with a long term value and benefits.
Simple and Informative:
- 10-Hour Online Caregiver Certification Training Program
Upon completion, you receive a mailed:
- T-Shirt
- Lapel Pin
- Certificate to show agencies and clients
PAC Membership that gives you value
- Senior Caregiving News
- Community chat and support
