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Personal care assistant vs care provider

The differences between personal care assistants and care providers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a care provider has an average salary of $29,652, which is higher than the $26,643 average annual salary of a personal care assistant.

The top three skills for a personal care assistant include patients, CPR and home health. The most important skills for a care provider are senior care, patients, and administer medications.

Personal care assistant vs care provider overview

Personal Care AssistantCare Provider
Yearly salary$26,643$29,652
Hourly rate$12.81$14.26
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs256,869169,562
Job satisfaction4.675
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%High School Diploma, 30%
Average age4848
Years of experience--

What does a personal care assistant do?

Personal care assistants are employed to help individuals who may need special attention or assistance. They are usually trained to care for individuals with specific conditions, whether physically or mentally. Personal care assistants manage their meal plans, medicine intake, daily schedule, and therapy, among others. They help their clients move, eat, bathe, and dress. They also run errands and provide any other assistance that their clients may need. Personal care assistants also provide emotional and moral support to their clients. They are also in touch with medical professionals and provide updates on the health of their clients.

What does a care provider do?

A care provider is responsible for assisting patients with their healthcare needs at the highest quality service. Care providers work in various medical organizations or are privately employed by a household. They perform medical procedures such as taking the patient's temperature and vital signs, monitoring their food intake, administering medications, collecting specimens for laboratory tests, and reporting the patient's condition to the attending physician or other health care professionals. A care provider must have excellent communication and organization skills, especially when consulting with patients for their needs and developing healthcare plans.

Personal care assistant vs care provider salary

Personal care assistants and care providers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Personal Care AssistantCare Provider
Average salary$26,643$29,652
Salary rangeBetween $18,000 And $37,000Between $17,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAAttleboro, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyMassachusetts General HospitalBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industryProfessionalGovernment

Differences between personal care assistant and care provider education

There are a few differences between a personal care assistant and a care provider in terms of educational background:

Personal Care AssistantCare Provider
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%High School Diploma, 30%
Most common majorNursingBusiness
Most common college--

Personal care assistant vs care provider demographics

Here are the differences between personal care assistants' and care providers' demographics:

Personal Care AssistantCare Provider
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 15.0% Female, 85.0%Male, 22.1% Female, 77.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.3% Asian, 8.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between personal care assistant and care provider duties and responsibilities

Personal care assistant example responsibilities.

  • Conduct and facilitate PCA lead group activities as scheduled
  • Act the utmost compassion and professionalism in providing every client with the highest quality care.
  • Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
  • Provide nourishment and medication to pet resort guests and hospitalize patients alike.
  • Assist consumers with outside activates that are planned by PCW
  • Used love and compassion & structure to show young individuals their self worth.
  • Show more

Care provider example responsibilities.

  • Manage provider network to include verifying claims and benefits for healthcare providers/members and insurance companies.
  • Aid and facilitate higher functioning patients reach their fullest potential while managing behavioral episodes as needed.
  • Accompany to medical appointments, administer medications, assist with ADL's, community integration, personal care, and therapeutic activities
  • Review appeals for Medicare non-participating providers following CMS specific guidelines for these providers.
  • Provide direct patient care to critical and non-critical emergency department patients as an experience EMT-Paramedic.
  • Change tracheal tube and catheter.
  • Show more

Personal care assistant vs care provider skills

Common personal care assistant skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • CPR, 12%
  • Home Health, 12%
  • RUN Errands, 7%
  • Companionship, 6%
  • Patient Care, 6%
Common care provider skills
  • Senior Care, 23%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Administer Medications, 6%
  • Direct Care, 6%
  • Meal Prep, 6%
  • Patient Care, 6%

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