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How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House
Exercise & Fitness

How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

At Visiting Angels®, we know how important home is to elderly adults. After all, the very goal of senior home care is to help seniors extend their years spent in the comfort of home. But as recent research has found, spending too much time at home can significantly shorten the lifespan of seniors. How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House
According to results published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, seniors who rarely leave the house have higher rates of mortality than seniors who leave their homes regularly. Meanwhile, seniors who leave the house every day have the lower rates of mortality of all.
These results were true even when researchers adjust for a range of health conditions. This suggests that spending almost all of one’s time at home isn’t just a sign of poor health, but an active contributor to it. That leads to a simple conclusion: spending more time out of the house could increase the average lifespan of elderly adults.
So how can family, friends, and caregivers encourage seniors to spend more time out of the house? Here are a few strategies.

Out-of-the-House Activities for Seniors

  • Have a Cup of Coffee. One of the best ways to get older adults out of the house is to make a cup of coffee at a local café or a lunchtime visit to a favorite restaurant a part of their daily routine. This can be done with a group of friends, a family member, or a professional caregiver.
  • Run Errands Together. Many seniors stop running errands as they grow older, preferring to have family, friends, or caregivers do them on their behalf. An alternative is to do these errands together. That way, seniors have someone with them to lend a hand and take care of any difficult aspects to errands, but they still get to enjoy time out in the community.
  • Take a Short Walk. A short walk around the neighborhood or through a local park is a great way to not only get seniors out of the house, but also to get them active. Even a short, five to ten-minute walk offers cardiovascular health benefits for seniors, and it’s the perfect way to get fresh air in warm weather.
  • Sign Up for Weekly Activities. Local community centers, seniors’ centers, and religious institutions often host a range of weekly activities perfect for seniors. Card games, tai chi classes, and book clubs are just some examples of popular activities for elderly adults.
  • Take Advantage of Community Markets. Many communities have weekly farmers’ markets, many of which are senior-friendly spaces. These markets are a great way to spend time outside, while also picking up healthy fruits and vegetables for during the week. Depending on your loved one’s interests, you might also find success with flea markets or arts-and-crafts markets.
  • Get Fresh Air Close to Home. You don’t need to go far to get out of the house. Elderly adults — particularly those with mobility difficulties — can get daily fresh air by spending time on their porch or in their backyard. Consider adding a birdfeeder, buying outdoor plants, or changing the garden so that your loved one has a reason for spending time outside.

When encouraging seniors to spend time out of the house, there may be limitations or difficulties you need to plan around. Many seniors become housebound due to physical health concerns that make it difficult to leave the home, so family members and friends may need to find activities that are easier to access and enjoy.
Another common issue is who seniors perform these activities with. Socially isolated seniors may not have friends or family available to join them when they leave the home. If seniors don’t enjoy spending time outside alone, it can be difficult to motivate them to get out of the house. Hiring a senior home care service, like Visiting Angels, to accompany your loved one for out-of-the-home activities may be helpful if this is the case.
How Exercise Helps the Body and Brain

How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House

How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House

How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House

How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House How to Get Seniors to Spend More Time Out of the House

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Caregiving

How to Know When to Bring in a Paid Caregiver

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Not everyone will eventually need family or paid caregivers. Many people are independent and care for themselves all the way up to the end. Some people may just need a little bit of help from their loved ones to keep them independent while others need a lot of help and support as they age.

If you have an aging loved one who isn’t able to remain independent, it can be overwhelming and stressful, no matter how strong your relationship is. Once you add in the stress of managing your own life, particularly if you are still working or are also parenting children, being a family caregiver is not for the weak.

Of course, if you are fortunate enough to have siblings who you can share responsibilities with, or a strong caregiver network, you are already ahead of the game. You can also outsource some tasks like cleaning or even meal preparation. But sometimes, even with support and delegation, you may still need to hire a paid caregiver.

How do you know when it’s time to hire a paid caregiver?

Signs Your Aging Parent Needs a Caregiver

First and foremost, know that your parent needs a paid caregiver if providing care to your loved one is affecting your physical or emotional health. Don’t feel guilty about this. You can’t care for others if you don’t care for yourself. Maybe you need a break a few hours a week or you need to take two weeks off. Find the right person and step away to take care of yourself. You’ll be a much better caregiver if you put your needs first.

Here are other signs it maybe be time for a paid caregiver:

  1. Physical Changes: If your aging parent has lost a considerable amount of weight or has taken a lot of falls, you may want to hire a paid caregiver to prepare meals and ensure your parent is safe at home.
  2. Decreased Mobility: If your aging parent has a difficult time moving around his/her home, you may want to hire a paid caregiver to ensure he can safely move through his home. Decreased mobility may mean that your parent can’t safely bathe on his/her own or prepare meals. A caregiver can help with those things, as well as help your parent improve mobility through an exercise or strength building routine established by a physical therapist.
  3. Decline in Hygiene or Grooming: If your normally well-groomed parent is suddenly slacking on hygiene or grooming, it may be because he/she is unable to bathe/handle grooming. A paid caregiver can come in to assist with these tasks.
  4. Dirty or Cluttered Home: If your aging parent normally kept a neat home, they may be struggling to keep up with normal household chores. Perhaps they aren’t able to push the vacuum or get too tired standing at the sink for a long period of time. A paid caregiver can come in for a few hours a week to help them keep up on these chores.
  5. Sick or Weak: If your parent is battling an illness or isn’t physically strong, you may want to hire a paid caregiver to take care of some of the standard home chores that they need help with, as well as provide help with standard activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, grooming).

 

While some of these tasks can be delegated or divided amongst family members, sometimes it is important to bring in the pros – particularly when they need assistance with activities of daily living. Your aging parent may be embarrassed to have their adult child bathe them or assist with toileting or dressing. Bringing in a paid caregiver can help them preserve their dignity.

Paying for a Paid Caregiver

If part of your hesitation in bringing on a paid caregiver is the cost, there may be resources available to your family. If you haven’t done so, check out my Resources page for links to government programs available to seniors and caregivers.

Your parent may qualify for in home caregiving. I had a client who was very low income who was able to have a caregiver in her home for 20 hours per week through a federal program. You should also check with caregiving agencies. Some of them lower the hourly rate based on the amount of time you need a caregiver. So, for example, the rate may be $37 per hour but if you book 4 hours it can drop to $28 per hour.

If you haven’t already done this, reach out to your local senior center and Administration on Aging office. They may know of programs in your parent’s town that provide caregiving support to people like your parent. And of course, if your parent is a veteran, reach out to your local Veteran Administration office to find out if they have programs that provide caregivers.

There are options, but you may have to do a little digging to find them. It is definitely worth it to do your research.

 

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Caregiving

What to consider when choosing an in-home care provider

by Kylie Johnson
written by Kylie Johnson

If you are looking into hiring an in-home care provider here are some things to consider:

Service availability

Home health aide schedules vary between agencies. This can impact affordability and convenience when hiring a service.

  • Home for the holidays: Does the agency offer holiday service? Many elderly people celebrate in their own homes, making it crucial for an assistant to be available during these days.
  • Part-time option: Not all seniors need round-the-clock care, so a part-time option helps keep costs low.
  • Overtime service: Family members responsible for primary care may face a late day at the office, bad traffic or any number of factors that could leave them running late. Be sure that a caregiver can remain on site when a complication arises.
  • Respite care: Family caregivers need breaks from time-to-time to tend to their own needs. Home health aides can fill in so that the care recipient remains safe while the family caregiver is away.

Clear communication

Communication between the family of the senior receiving care and the provider organization is critical to creating a comprehensive schedule of services. Slow response times could leave a senior alone, or put them in danger by delaying reports on issues that could impact their health.

  • Health reporting: How often does the service provider give a comprehensive report about the senior’s continued ability to live alone?
  • Schedule changes: For many people, caring for an elderly parent does not reduce other demands on their time, leaving them to schedule around school plays, nights out with friends and work functions. Flexible and emergency scheduling is a must.
  • Live operators: As effective as voice mail can be, waiting for a call back can be nerve wracking. Make sure your service provider routinely answers the phone, rather than responding to messages.

Provider screening

Any time you let someone into your home, you take a risk. The elderly are particularly at risk, so before inviting someone in, it is important that they pass screening and a background check which should be provided by the agency.

  • Background checks: A credit check and scan of criminal history could provide a sense of security.
  • Reference checks: Reference checks are a quick and easy way to find out whether someone has a history of quality performance, and they are also something that many employers neglect to do.
  • Caregiver interview: Instead of simply assigning someone to a case, it is important to allow the caregiver, senior and their family to meet in an informal environment. Compatibility is a foundation for building trust.

Absentee policies

Everyone needs a day off occasionally, so what happens when a caregiver calls out?

  • Immediate notification: Before sending a replacement, the agency should notify you of the conflict. You might prefer to take some time off rather than have a stranger take on the job.
  • Available replacement: If they have a call out, can the agency send out someone else without missing the service window?
  • Permanent replacement option: While occasional call outs are inevitable, repetitive issues with missed work can be a major issue. It is important to know how many you might deal with from a single provider.

Cost

When trying to provide care on a limited budget, the cost can be a major issue. Medicare rarely covers in-home care costs, leaving much of it to be out-of-pocket. You can see what benefits you or your loved one are eligible for by visiting benefits.gov. Long-term care insurance and Medicare supplemental insurance might be viable options to help cover costs.

  • Daily charges: Is there a daily maximum on charges?
  • Hourly charges: Hourly charges can rack up fast, particularly for those that need round-the-clock care.
  • Extra therapy charge: If the primary aide only helps around the house, but is supplemented with a physical therapist or nurse, is there an additional charge for these occasional services? There almost always is.

Article provide by ConsumerAffairs.com

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Caregiving

Types of home care services

by Kylie Johnson
written by Kylie Johnson

Home health aides

Home health aides are professionals who can help with self-care, housework, cooking and more. They might also perform some basic medical tasks. Home health aides sometimes have medical training, so they might be certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs). However, there aren’t any specific standards requiring a home health aide to have particular training or certification. If you’re looking for someone to help with any medical-related tasks, ask about certifications when choosing your provider. Medicare or Medicaid might pay for help from a home health aide.

Nurses

Home care nurses often handle the basic medical needs of those aging in place, like tracking their vitals, giving them IV medications and changing bandages. These professionals could either be licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs). The higher level of care a person needs, the more likely their nurse will be an RN. Sometimes, a nurse will visit a patient less frequently but will manage a team of home health aides that visits the person every day. Medicare or Medicaid might pay for help from a home care nurse.

Geriatric care managers

Geriatric care managers are professionals that help caregivers figure out how much care their loved one needs and what living situation might be best for them. They also help caregivers and families navigate the medical system and figure out how to pay for care and hire appropriate home care professionals. Geriatric care managers often have backgrounds in gerontology, social work, nursing, psychology or another related field. You’ll often have to pay out-of-pocket to hire a care manager, but it could be worth the investment if they help you save money in other ways.

Companion services

Companion services vary a lot. Companions might just be someone who keeps your loved one company, or they might also offer transportation and housekeeping services. Companions don’t handle any medical tasks, and they don’t usually help with bathing, grooming or other activities of daily living (ADLs). Because these individuals don’t provide medical care, Medicaid and Medicare won’t pay for them. You may be able to find a community service organization, like Volunteers of America, that provides these services for free.

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is a national organization that operates in most communities in the United States. It works with local businesses and volunteers to serve meals to people over 60. The organization delivers meals to people in their homes, and the volunteers who drop meals off provide some companionship to seniors. The group also serves meals in local community centers, so people who can drive can get out of the house to socialize. These services are free or low-cost, depending on where you live.

Community villages

Villages are non-profit organizations designed to help people age in place. Villages coordinate volunteers and paid workers to organize social and educational activities. Villages typically offer transportation services and limited in-home assistance as well as discounted services from health professionals. Each village is independently operated, so the services offered in your area will vary. To find out about a village near you and learn more about these organizations, visit the Village to Village Network’s website.

PACE programs

Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, is a part of Medicare and Medicaid. The programs provide as much care as feasibly possible to people in their own homes. For example, someone in a state with PACE might be eligible for in-home care, social work counseling and many other services.

Programs in different parts of the country have slightly different offerings, but the overall goal is to keep people in their own homes as long as possible. These programs currently exist in just over 30 states, but they don’t necessarily cover the entire state. To find out about PACE programs in your area, visit the PACE page on the Medicare website.

Article shared by ConsumerAffairs.com

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Caregiving

How to choose a home care provider

by Kylie Johnson
written by Kylie Johnson

1. Write down all the care services needed

Start by making a complete list of all the tasks you or your loved one needs help with. Once you have this list, you can decide whether you need one provider or a few with different specialties.

2. Screen over the phone first

Next, call the companies that advertise the services you need and confirm that their employees can do everything needed. Use the list of questions from Eldercare.gov to ensure your loved one will receive quality care.

3. Interview in the resident’s home

If a provider meets your standards after talking to them on the phone, have an in-home interview with the people who will work with your loved one. Make sure you and the care recipient feel comfortable and confident.

4. Call the provider’s references

Anyone who will be working in your loved one’s home should be willing to give you a list of references, including current clients. Call these people to learn more about the provider and ensure they’re someone you want to hire.

5. Run a background check

Run a background check on each individual who will be helping your loved one in their home.

Article from ConsumerAffairs.com

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Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care
Caregiving

Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

When someone you love requires senior care, it’s important that they receive care from a provider who puts seniors first. The sudden boom in America’s elderly population has made senior care one of America’s most lucrative industries. While many owners of senior care agencies and facilities are getting into the industry for the right reasons, too many others only see dollar signs. Instead of putting seniors first, they’re prioritizing the bottom line. Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care
At Visiting Angels®, we’ve been focused on seniors’ well-being for more than twenty years and have become one of the most trusted names in the senior care industry. We know that a profit-first approach to senior care is not the right answer. What’s more, we believe in giving families the information they need to find trustworthy care for their loved ones.
Here’s why. As a business-owner, the bottom line is always a concern. There’s a simple reason. If you’re losing money, you can’t stay in business. And if you can’t stay in business, you can’t provide care to the seniors who need your support. But if maximizing profits is a bigger priority than optimizing quality of care, that’s a problem.
Nothing has underscored this more clearly than a New York Times report on American nursing homes published this January. Reporters discovered heartbreaking stories of malpractice and mistreatment in a series of nursing homes engaged in shady business practices. It turned out that the owners were buying services and supplies from companies they owned separately from their nursing homes. By making these purchases at artificially high prices, the owners were able to mask how much money they were actually making.
Thankfully, these transactions are unlikely to occur in the at home care industry.

Choosing a Trustworthy Senior Care Provider

The good news is that there are still senior care agencies and facilities that put seniors first instead of focusing solely on profits. Here are a few tips on how to steer clear of senior care agencies and nursing facilities that put profits ahead of the seniors in their care.

  • During your initial consultations with care providers, gauge how flexible they are with regards to your loved one’s care concerns, personal preferences, and scheduling requests. High-quality providers understand the unique needs of their clients and customize their services accordingly.
  • If possible, research their reputation within the community. A quality provider will happily provide references from past clients. Online reviews can be an excellent resource, particularly for well-established agencies and care facilities.
  • When a provider is part of a national brand, pay close attention to the wider reputation of that brand. Different brands hold their locations to different standards and operate according to different values. Trusted names, like Visiting Angels, are trusted for a reason.

For home care services that put seniors first, contact your local Visiting Angels. Call 800-365-4189 or contact your local office to get detailed information on our senior care services or to schedule a free in-home consultation with your local director.

Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care

Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care
 

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Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care?
Diet & Nutrition

Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care?

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

When you open the medicine cabinet or kitchen cupboard of the typical senior, you’ll find a collection of daily vitamins and supplements. Over the past several years, the American vitamin and supplement industry has experienced steady growth. Much of that growth has been driven by products marketed to seniors. Manufacturers use labels like “silver” and “platinum,” while claiming that vitamins play and essential role in senior care and elderly health.

But according to medical professionals, many of these products offer marginal benefits — if any at all. Doctors say that most seniors shouldn’t be getting their micronutrients in pill form. Nonetheless, they caution that some seniors may require supplements for certain micronutrients. And while they say that most seniors shouldn’t take vitamin supplements, they emphasize that vitamin intake plays a crucial role in elderly health.

Confused? You aren’t alone. Thankfully, it doesn’t take long to learn where vitamins fit in the wider picture of senior care and elderly health. Here’s the basic information that seniors and family caregivers should know about vitamins, supplements, and their role in senior care.

Vitamins & Senior Care

There’s a common misconception that as we grow older, our bodies need more vitamins to stay healthy. Generally speaking, this isn’t the case. Our bodies require most vitamins and minerals in the same doses throughout our lives. A 79-year-old’s recommended intake of vitamin C, vitamin E, and thiamin — to name a handful of examples — will be the same as the recommended intake for someone 30, 40, or 50 years younger.

There are, however, a small number of exceptions. These are nutrients that the body has harder time absorbing, processing, or producing on its own in old age. Seniors and senior care providers may need to pay special attention to the following seven vitamins, minerals, and nutrients:

  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B12
  • Calcium
  • Potassium
  • Folate
  • Omega-3 acids
  • Fiber

 

But should seniors be taking supplements to hit their daily recommended dosage of these nutrients? According to medical professionals and senior care experts, the answer is no for most seniors. Unless an individual is suffering from a specific condition or a severe nutritional deficiency, a healthy diet is all seniors need to maintain healthy nutrition, including vitamins and minerals. Seniors and family caregivers can, in most cases, correct nutritional deficits through small adjustments in diet.

Here’s where things get a little bit murkier. In a perfect world, all of us would live healthy lifestyles, filled with physical activity and nutritious meals. In the real world, many of us struggle to make healthy choices. Healthy eating can be especially difficult for seniors. Age-related difficulties can make it harder to shop for fresh produce, and many seniors struggle to make nutritious meals on a regular basis. Without help from family caregivers or in-home senior care services, it may be more realistic for some seniors to get those vitamins in pill form.

So how should seniors and family caregivers approach vitamins and other supplements? Here are some basic best practices for you to follow:

  • Before purchasing vitamins or supplements, speak with a doctor or a nutritional specialist about whether it’s a good idea to increase the intake of these nutrients.
  • In cases where nutrient intake should be increased, check whether it’s better to increase intake through supplements, or whether changes in diet would be healthier.
  • Seniors who struggle with purchasing and preparing nutritious meals should consider asking family members for help with grocery shopping, meal planning, and meal preparation.
  • If family members cannot provide assistance with the above tasks, consider hiring an in-home senior care service to cover these activities on part-time or full-time basis.

 

Do you have a loved one who could benefit from senior care assistance with nutrition, grocery shopping, and meal preparation? You’ll find the assistance you need with your local Visiting Angels®. Call 800-365-4189 today or find your local Visiting Angels office to learn more.

Note: Visiting Angels does not provide medical care. All information contained in this article should be considered advisory only. If you are concerned about a loved one’s health or that they may have vitamin deficiencies, please contact their health care professional.

Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care?

Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care? Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care? Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care? Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care? Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care? Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care? Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care? Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care? Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care? Where Do Vitamins & Supplements Fit in Senior Care?

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6 Ways Home Care Can Help Seniors Rediscover Purpose
Age-In-Place

6 Ways Home Care Can Help Seniors Rediscover Purpose

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

After retirement, seniors often struggle to find purpose in their lives. Many are surprised at their lack of direction without a Monday-to-Friday job. This lack of motivation can have a damaging effect on seniors’ well-being. Without this sense of purpose, seniors often slip into a sedentary lifestyle. Others find themselves feeling listless, anxious, or depressed. 6 Ways Home Care Can Help Seniors Rediscover Purpose
At Visiting Angels, we’ve seen how lack of purpose takes a toll on older adults, time and time again. When seniors first get started with a home care assessment, many report feeling a lack of energy, motivation, and direction. When designing a personalized care plan for a client, we often focus on how home care can assuage these feelings.
While there are many ways that home care services can help seniors re-discover purpose in their lives, here are six that we’ve seen work especially well.

1. Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to give older adults a sense of purpose and meaning during retirement. However, some seniors feel intimidated if they’ve never volunteered before, or feel uncomfortable in social situations. Other seniors have physical difficulties and need assistance to attend volunteering events. A caregiver’s presence can be helpful in these situations.

2. Taking a Class

A lot of seniors find that retirement is a great time to further their education. Older adults can take the time to learn about subjects that have always held their interest, or can become fluent in a new language they’ve always wanted to learn. Home care services can make it easier for elderly adults to attend classes in person or online.

3. Learning a Skill

While some seniors prefer book learning, others enjoy developing new skills. Some get a kick out of building hands-on skills, like woodworking or refinishing furniture. Others learn computer skills, like coding or building websites. Seniors with creative streaks might find themselves picking up a paintbrush or flexing their writing skills. Whatever the activity, a caregiver’s support and encouragement can often be a crucial boost.

4. Reconnecting Online

Email and social media have made it easier than ever before to reconnect with long-lost friends and communicate across long distances. Unfortunately, many seniors find these tools difficult or intimidating to use. Home care services like Visiting Angels’ social care program connect seniors with caregivers who can help them navigate online spaces.

4. Telling Your Story

Retirement is a particularly ripe time for reflection. Many older adults find themselves with the urge to record their personal history. This creates a cherished document for their children, grandchildren, and future generations. Home care services can give seniors a partner for genealogical research, sorting through old photos, recording important memories, and compiling a personal history.

6. Meaningful Relationships

Sometimes, purpose comes from something as simple as social interaction. Companion care is a type of home care service that pairs seniors who feel lonely or isolated with friendly and compassionate care companions. The conversation, company, and face-to-face contact offered by this type of care can be vital for elderly adults, and caregivers can offer a helping hand when needed.
If you worry that your mom or dad is having trouble finding purpose in their golden years, we invite you to get in touch with your local Visiting Angels. We will be happy to discuss your options for home care services and provide a free, no-obligation assessment. Get started by contacting your local Visiting Angels or by calling 800-365-4189 today. 6 Ways Home Care Can Help Seniors Rediscover Purpose

6 Ways Home Care Can Help Seniors Rediscover Purpose

6 Ways Home Care Can Help Seniors Rediscover Purpose 6 Ways Home Care Can Help Seniors Rediscover Purpose 6 Ways Home Care Can Help Seniors Rediscover Purpose 6 Ways Home Care Can Help Seniors Rediscover Purpose
 
 

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7 Essential Resume Writing Tips for Caregivers
Caregiving

7 Essential Resume Writing Tips for Caregivers

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Writing about yourself in the form of a resume is never an easy task. However, it’s an essential part of the job-seeking process and always the first impression you’ll have with a future employer, so you’ll want to make sure that it’s perfect. 7 Essential Resume Writing Tips for Caregivers
The caregiver industry is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world so if you’re looking for your next job; there’s never been a better time to do so. So you don’t miss out on your next opportunity, here are seven tips you need to know about writing the best resume possible.

Start with Formatting

As with all resumes, the way you format your document is one of the most important aspects to consider, even more so when it comes to caregivers. In this profession, having an eye for detail is a key element that you’ll need to show you have, and what better way to show it than in your resume?
“Before you start writing, start by laying out your resume on your page, adding in the title, your contact details and subheadings for the sections that you’re going to be talking about,” shares Alan Thompson, a resume writer from Academized.

Always Be Honest

When writing your resume, it’s essential that you’re honest in everything you say. It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to stretch the truth, so an employer is more likely to hire you, but this is only ever going to backfire in the long-term. As a caregiver, honesty is one of the most important traits you can possess.

Customise Your Resume for Each Job

There’s a standard rule in the world of resume writing that you have to write a new resume, or at least edit your resume, for every single job you apply for, and the same is true for a caregiver’s resume.
When you’re applying for a job, read through the job description and make sure you edit your resume, so the skills you’ve listed first are the closest match to the skills that the company is looking for to maximise your chances of securing an interview.

Include as Much Detail as Possible

As we mentioned above, your resume is likely to be the first impression a company will ever have of you, so you’ll want to make sure that it counts. With this in mind, you need to make sure that you include as much detail as possible in all your sections.
This includes the experience and education sections, so you really highlight what makes you special and suitable for the job role that you’re applying for.

Writing the Perfect Resume

Not everybody is born to be a professional writer and, as a caregiver, the chances are that you probably don’t have time to learn. However, thanks to modern-day technology, there is a wealth of tools out there that can help. Here are a few to get you started;

  • Then VS Than & Grammarix: These are two online blogs you can use to improve your grammar skills for writing your resume.
  • Resume Writing Service: This is a resume-building service where you can use and download templates to follow while writing.
  • Boom Essays: This is an online writing agency with professional writers who can guide you through the resume writing process, as recommended by the HuffingtonPost in Write Me an Essay.
  • State of Writing & My Writing Way: These are online writing websites full of writing guides you can follow when writing your resume.
  • UKWritings: This is an online service you can use to help you improve your interview skills, as suggested by Best Essay Writing Services.
  • Cite It In: A free online tool you can use to add professionally formatted references and quotes to your resume.
  • Essayroo & Assignment Help: These are two custom writing services that can write your resume for you on your behalf.
  • Easy Word Count: A free online tool you can use to track and monitor the word count of your resume.

Include References

Since you’re working with other people and providing them with care, an employer will want to make sure they are getting the perfect person for the job. There’s no better way to prove that you’re capable than getting a reference from a previous employer.
This proves that you have the experience that you say you have and uses the credibility of the last company that you worked for to boost your chances of securing an interview.

Don’t Forget the Basics

There are a few basics you’ll want to remember when it comes to resume writing and it’s vital that you don’t forget them while trying to remember everything else. Firstly, check your contact details to make sure they’re right. You don’t want to have been selected for an interview, only for the employer to find it impossible to get in contact with you.
Secondly, try to keep your resume to a single page, so it’s not overwhelming to the recruiter. Finally, don’t forget to proofread your resume, so it’s free from spelling mistakes and typos.
Mary Walton is an editor at Australian Assignment Writing Service and BigAssignments, tutoring websites that help Aussie students. She blogs on Simple Grad, read her Best Essay Writing Services article there.

7 Essential Resume Writing Tips for Caregivers

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