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Elderly caregiver vs personal care worker

The differences between elderly caregivers and personal care workers 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 $29,490 average annual salary of a personal care worker.

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

Elderly caregiver vs personal care worker overview

Elderly CaregiverPersonal Care Worker
Yearly salary$37,109$29,490
Hourly rate$17.84$14.18
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs71,532129,522
Job satisfaction35
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%High School Diploma, 36%
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 personal care worker do?

A personal care worker is responsible for providing quality health care services for elders and disabled persons. Personal care workers are usually employed in a private household setting or a special healthcare institution, assisting patients with their daily activities, and monitoring their conditions. They update the patients' medical charts, administer medication from the physician's prescriptions, and manage their food intake. A personal care worker must be highly-organized, especially when attending to patients' needs, inquiries, and concerns.

Elderly caregiver vs personal care worker salary

Elderly caregivers and personal care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Elderly CaregiverPersonal Care Worker
Average salary$37,109$29,490
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $59,000Between $22,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYLynn, MA
Highest paying stateConnecticutMassachusetts
Best paying companyCARETyson Foods
Best paying industryHealth CareProfessional

Differences between elderly caregiver and personal care worker education

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

Elderly CaregiverPersonal Care Worker
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Elderly caregiver vs personal care worker demographics

Here are the differences between elderly caregivers' and personal care workers' demographics:

Elderly CaregiverPersonal Care Worker
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 14.5% Female, 85.5%Male, 16.4% Female, 83.6%
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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 10.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between elderly caregiver and personal care worker 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.

Personal care worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage provider network to include verifying claims and benefits for healthcare providers/members and insurance companies.
  • Assist in transfers using a gate belt or a hoyer lift.
  • Use a Hoyer lift to transport patient out of bed to their wheel chair
  • Perform light maintance which include switching window screens and storm windows, installing and removing air conditioning units.
  • Care for mentally and physically disable individuals, bathing, feeding, house cleaning duties, tolieting, medicines, CPR certify
  • Travele to different client homes to assist with ADL's i.e., laundry, bathing, grooming, cleaning, etc.
  • Show more

Elderly caregiver vs personal care worker skills

Common elderly caregiver skills
  • Adaptive, 23%
  • Oral Care, 16%
  • Companionship, 13%
  • CPR, 9%
  • RUN Errands, 8%
  • In-Home Care, 7%
Common personal care worker skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Home Health, 20%
  • Good Communication, 13%
  • In-Home Care, 12%
  • Companionship, 5%
  • Patient Care, 2%

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