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Personal care assistant vs elderly caregiver

The differences between personal care assistants and elderly caregivers 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 $26,643 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 an elderly caregiver are adaptive, oral care, and companionship.

Personal care assistant vs elderly caregiver overview

Personal Care AssistantElderly Caregiver
Yearly salary$26,643$37,109
Hourly rate$12.81$17.84
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs256,86971,532
Job satisfaction4.673
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%High School Diploma, 33%
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 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.

Personal care assistant vs elderly caregiver salary

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

Personal Care AssistantElderly Caregiver
Average salary$26,643$37,109
Salary rangeBetween $18,000 And $37,000Between $23,000 And $59,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MANew York, NY
Highest paying stateMassachusettsConnecticut
Best paying companyMassachusetts General HospitalCARE
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between personal care assistant and elderly caregiver education

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

Personal Care AssistantElderly Caregiver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%High School Diploma, 33%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Personal care assistant vs elderly caregiver demographics

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

Personal Care AssistantElderly Caregiver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 15.0% Female, 85.0%Male, 14.5% Female, 85.5%
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, 10.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 21.4% Asian, 7.4% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between personal care assistant and elderly caregiver 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

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 assistant vs elderly caregiver skills

Common personal care assistant skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • CPR, 12%
  • Home Health, 12%
  • RUN Errands, 7%
  • Companionship, 6%
  • Patient Care, 6%
Common elderly caregiver skills
  • Adaptive, 23%
  • Oral Care, 16%
  • Companionship, 13%
  • CPR, 9%
  • RUN Errands, 8%
  • In-Home Care, 7%

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