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Personal care assistant vs home care attendant

The differences between personal care assistants and home care attendants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a personal care assistant has an average salary of $26,643, which is higher than the $26,059 average annual salary of a home care attendant.

The top three skills for a personal care assistant include patients, CPR and home health. The most important skills for a home care attendant are patients, home health, and companionship.

Personal care assistant vs home care attendant overview

Personal Care AssistantHome Care Attendant
Yearly salary$26,643$26,059
Hourly rate$12.81$12.53
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs256,869235,912
Job satisfaction4.675
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%Bachelor's Degree, 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 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.

Personal care assistant vs home care attendant salary

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

Personal Care AssistantHome Care Attendant
Average salary$26,643$26,059
Salary rangeBetween $18,000 And $37,000Between $17,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAWatertown Town, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsAlaska
Best paying companyMassachusetts General HospitalDignity Health
Best paying industryProfessionalMedia

Differences between personal care assistant and home care attendant education

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

Personal Care AssistantHome Care Attendant
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Personal care assistant vs home care attendant demographics

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

Personal Care AssistantHome Care Attendant
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 15.0% Female, 85.0%Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9%
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, 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 personal care assistant and home care attendant 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

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

Personal care assistant vs home care attendant skills

Common personal care assistant skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • CPR, 12%
  • Home Health, 12%
  • RUN Errands, 7%
  • Companionship, 6%
  • Patient Care, 6%
Common home care attendant skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Home Health, 16%
  • Companionship, 14%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Meal Prep, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%

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