I am considering working as a PCA. Can a PCA be required to do pericare? Or are their laws that prohibit that at the PCA level, perhaps only requiring it at higher levels of health care workers (i.e. HHA, CNA)? If possible I would prefer not to have that as part of the job scope. Am hoping PCA level will exclude this job duty.
I have the same question regarding bathing a client at PCA level. I am in NY in case these two aspects of home health care vary per state laws, if any.
Someone to keep a person company with little if any "hands on" care.
You might do light household cleaning, maybe fix a meal. Maybe take the charge shopping, for a walk.
As others have mentioned the need for caregivers in almost any facility or working for an agency is high. The more things you can do, the more you are willing to do the more opportunity you will have. And the more you do the more you will get paid.
Working for an agency, especially in an area where you know there is a high demand, may mean that after you are hired they will try to pressure you to take on duties you never agreed on, I know that often the women sent to care for my mother were not told in advance her care needs, they were expected to follow and check off the duties listed in a binder we kept at home.
A Grandma says, this is part of the bathing process and toileting. The two things I did not like to do and when hiring someone for care, would want. You sound more of a companion. The client can do their ADLs with some help.
I am looking for entry level with minimum training needed. So I would not be looking at CNA or HHA, and apparently PCA I would need to take care of these two items if client requires it.
You mentioned a "Companion" position, does that exclude these two? Is there an acronym (like CNA, HHA, etc) associated with that job title and is "Companion" what title would be, or is there a blurring in help wanted ads where a PCA is sometimes called a Companion and vice versa?
Thanks again for your help.
Some of the tasks that PCAs may perform for a person with disabilities include:
Assist with administration of some medications
Assisting on outings
Bathing, washing
Brushing teeth
Changing clothes
Combing hair, self-care
Communication assistance
Continence assistance
Exercising
Household chores, cleaning
Meal assistance, food preparation
Shopping
Social, emotional support
Transitioning from a chair to furniture
Transportation
If you don't want to do any peri-care then you don't accept a position where that is a requirement, simple as that. Perhaps you would be more comfortable working with children?
Is PCA (personal care assistant/aide) one step below HHA (home health aide) in overall job duties? If so, I was hoping PCA by definition excluded pericare and bathing, but apparently not.
Is there one step below PCA that when checking ads to help adults in their homes would by definition exclude these two job functions? If so what would that job title/acronym be?
Thanks for your help here, all new to me as I examine this new field.
Any client you have to bathe you would have to decline as well.
I am thinking that you might want to rethink your choice of work.