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Sitter vs senior caregiver

The differences between sitters and senior caregivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior caregiver has an average salary of $28,771, which is higher than the $28,724 average annual salary of a sitter.

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

Sitter vs senior caregiver overview

SitterSenior Caregiver
Yearly salary$28,724$28,771
Hourly rate$13.81$13.83
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs85,15267,227
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Average age4848
Years of experience--

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.

What does a senior caregiver do?

A senior caregiver is responsible for supporting the elderly, disabled patients, and other persons with illnesses or has difficulty managing themselves alone and assist them with their daily activities. Senior caregivers monitor the patients' behaviors, keep records of health conditions, administer medications, and prepare the patients for medical procedures. They also coordinate with the attending physicians and other medical health professionals in developing quality care plans and services for the patients, following the standard procedures and health safety requirements.

Sitter vs senior caregiver salary

Sitters and senior caregivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

SitterSenior Caregiver
Average salary$28,724$28,771
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $39,000Between $22,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityFair Lawn, NJPortland, OR
Highest paying stateMassachusettsVermont
Best paying companySouthcoast HealthCARE
Best paying industryNon ProfitsHealth Care

Differences between sitter and senior caregiver education

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

SitterSenior Caregiver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Most common majorNursingBusiness
Most common college--

Sitter vs senior caregiver demographics

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

SitterSenior Caregiver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 13.9% Female, 86.1%Male, 12.2% Female, 87.8%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 8.0% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between sitter and senior caregiver duties and responsibilities

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

Senior caregiver example responsibilities.

  • Provide day-to-day assistance to the elderly with ADL needs.
  • Light housekeeping including pet care, empty and sanitize commode.
  • Maintain familiar routine, assist with decision making and pet care.
  • Assist patient with ADL's, by means of cooperative service plans.
  • Care of clients with Alzheimer's, dementia, stroke and post-operative hip replacement surgery.
  • Demonstrate sensitivity and compassion to patient.
  • Show more

Sitter vs senior caregiver skills

Common sitter skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • Kids, 20%
  • CPR, 13%
  • Patient Safety, 6%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • PET, 5%
Common senior caregiver skills
  • Companionship, 24%
  • Senior Care, 10%
  • In-Home Care, 10%
  • Home Health, 10%
  • Medication Reminders, 6%
  • Meal Prep, 5%

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