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Family caregiver vs sitter

The differences between family caregivers and sitters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a family caregiver has an average salary of $32,827, which is higher than the $28,724 average annual salary of a sitter.

The top three skills for a family caregiver include meal preparation, companionship and in-home care. The most important skills for a sitter are patients, kids, and CPR.

Family caregiver vs sitter overview

Family CaregiverSitter
Yearly salary$32,827$28,724
Hourly rate$15.78$13.81
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs126,18885,152
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%High School Diploma, 32%
Average age4848
Years of experience--

What does a family caregiver do?

Family caregivers mainly provide care to families operating as health care system extensions. The caregivers perform complicated therapeutic and medical tasks and ensure recipients' compliance with their therapeutic regimens. They serve as home-based coordinators of care and personal care recipient advocates. It is their job to assess the needs of the families. They also prepare a care plan, help with housekeeping, provide companionship, monitor medications, and prepare meals.

What does a sitter do?

A sitter is responsible for assisting medical needs under the supervision of an attending physician, registered nurses, and other health professionals. Sitters monitor the patients' daily activities and perform medical duties such as taking the patient's temperature, administering medications, monitoring food intake, helping with bathing needs, and responding to the patients' inquiries, concerns, and requests. They also keep track of medical charts to report the patients' health condition and progress to the senior staff.

Family caregiver vs sitter salary

Family caregivers and sitters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Family CaregiverSitter
Average salary$32,827$28,724
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $46,000Between $20,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City-Fair Lawn, NJ
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Southcoast Health
Best paying industry-Non Profits

Differences between family caregiver and sitter education

There are a few differences between a family caregiver and a sitter in terms of educational background:

Family CaregiverSitter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%High School Diploma, 32%
Most common majorBusinessNursing
Most common college--

Family caregiver vs sitter demographics

Here are the differences between family caregivers' and sitters' demographics:

Family CaregiverSitter
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 29.3% Female, 70.7%Male, 13.9% Female, 86.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 8.6% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 17.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 8.0% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between family caregiver and sitter duties and responsibilities

Family caregiver example responsibilities.

  • Manage all household duties, meals, laundry, groceries, appointments, etc.
  • Be up to date on CPR, first aid and classes.
  • Preform a great knowledge of CPR experience.
  • Assist with ADL's, socialization, and developmental progression.
  • Give daily injections of insulin and attempt to prevent complications of diabetes.
  • Instructed/Advise individuals on issues such as household cleanliness, hygiene, nutrition, and infant care.
  • Show more

Sitter example responsibilities.

  • Run groceries or medical errands for patients.
  • Complete light housekeeping duties, such as dishes, folding laundry, buying groceries.
  • Help out with regular ADL's as well such as bathing, ambulating, eating, dressing, and exercise.
  • Assist with ADL's; bathing needs, food prep, exercise, drive and assist with appointments, light housekeeping
  • Provide colostomy care and administer medication for pain management in accordance with current physician recommendations.
  • Help nursing with flushing of catheters with certain residents.
  • Show more

Family caregiver vs sitter skills

Common family caregiver skills
  • Meal Preparation, 18%
  • Companionship, 11%
  • In-Home Care, 10%
  • Medical Assistance, 9%
  • Doctor Appointments, 6%
  • Medication Administration, 4%
Common sitter skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • Kids, 20%
  • CPR, 13%
  • Patient Safety, 6%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • PET, 5%

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