Personal Care Attendants, Part II
Tips on training and managing personal care attendants.
There are an estimated 58 million people in the country with a disability. Personal Care Attendants can help them remain in their own homes instead of in nursing homes.
After The Interview
After you have hired the candidate that best fits your needs and personality, it is time for the training period. Depending on the level of care that you require, training a new attendant can take as little as one day or as long as a week. For instance, I only need an hour and a half to two hours a day so my attendant only needed one day to learn my care. The client she had before me required round the clock care, and it took her a full seven days to learn her eight-hour shift of her clients’ care.
Ideally, you should have the departing attendant (or family member if this is your first attendant) train the new attendant and supervise their first few days doing your care alone.
Working With Your PCA
The best advice that can be given on how to work well with your PCA is to find a good balance between employer and friend. If you become too close with your attendants, some may try to take advantage of you. Remember that you are the employer, you know what needs to be done and how you want it done.
Also remember that PCA’s are human, too. They get tired and have bad days just like the rest of us. Although anyone working in the healthcare industry should not bring their problems to work, it sometimes happens. Just be patient and understanding. You can care and be pleasant while still maintaining a good working relatinship.
Have A Backup
Always have a backup in place in the event that your attendant has an unscheduled emergency or just needs a day off. In the event of a child’s illness, a death in the family or some other kind of unexpected emergency, it is essential to have a backup plan in place so that you will not be left without a PCA.
