Post job

Elderly caregiver vs home care attendant

The differences between elderly caregivers and home care attendants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an elderly caregiver has an average salary of $37,109, which is higher than the $26,059 average annual salary of a home care attendant.

The top three skills for an elderly caregiver include adaptive, oral care and companionship. The most important skills for a home care attendant are patients, home health, and companionship.

Elderly caregiver vs home care attendant overview

Elderly CaregiverHome Care Attendant
Yearly salary$37,109$26,059
Hourly rate$17.84$12.53
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs71,532235,912
Job satisfaction35
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age4848
Years of experience--

What does an elderly caregiver do?

An Elderly Caregiver provides personal and emotional support to people who cannot look after themselves. They are either hired by a client or their family, or report directly to a physician or a nurse.

What does a home care attendant do?

A home care attendant is a health care worker whose primary job is to provide care and assistance to the elderly and people with disabilities. Your day-to-day duties will include monitoring and recording the condition of patients, performing housekeeping and laundry, and providing personal care services such as dressing and bathing. In addition, you will assist patients in caring for themselves by teaching them how to use a walker, cane, and personal hygiene equipment. As a home care attendant, you are also expected to adhere to asepsis procedures and standards to maintain a secure, healthy, and safe environment.

Elderly caregiver vs home care attendant salary

Elderly caregivers and home care attendants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Elderly CaregiverHome Care Attendant
Average salary$37,109$26,059
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $59,000Between $17,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYWatertown Town, MA
Highest paying stateConnecticutAlaska
Best paying companyCAREDignity Health
Best paying industryHealth CareMedia

Differences between elderly caregiver and home care attendant education

There are a few differences between an elderly caregiver and a home care attendant in terms of educational background:

Elderly CaregiverHome Care Attendant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Elderly caregiver vs home care attendant demographics

Here are the differences between elderly caregivers' and home care attendants' demographics:

Elderly CaregiverHome Care Attendant
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 14.5% Female, 85.5%Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 21.4% Asian, 7.4% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.0% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between elderly caregiver and home care attendant duties and responsibilities

Elderly caregiver example responsibilities.

  • Care include dressing, assisting with activities of daily living (ADL )
  • Assist w/bathing, personal hygiene laundry, housecleaning, ADL, and daily bed linen changing ....
  • Provide compassionate care to cognitively impair patients including but not limit to Alzheimer's patients and patients with dementia.
  • Help them build confidence providing companionship and conversation to have a normal lifestyle
  • Provide companionship for elderly individual, accompany patients to doctor appointment or other appointments as needed.
  • Keep information confidential according to HIPPA regulations.

Home care attendant example responsibilities.

  • Manage clients bills, paid them, buy groceries, take complete care of their responsibilities.
  • Self-Direct and empower, providing hygiene care, hospice and respite care to Alzheimer's patients and patients requiring long-term assistance.
  • Provide companionship and conversation, stabilization, and assistance with walking, and providing medication and appointment reminders for assign patients.
  • Maintain all confidential personnel files and CPR compliance records.
  • Ensure that HHA's are trained to administer the required care.
  • Interview applicants for HHA training program, and general clerical duties and some front reception coverage.
  • Show more

Elderly caregiver vs home care attendant skills

Common elderly caregiver skills
  • Adaptive, 23%
  • Oral Care, 16%
  • Companionship, 13%
  • CPR, 9%
  • RUN Errands, 8%
  • In-Home Care, 7%
Common home care attendant skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Home Health, 16%
  • Companionship, 14%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Meal Prep, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%

Browse personal care and attendants jobs