DCWs provide assistance to older adults and persons with disabilities in a variety of settings from an individual’s own private home to adult foster care homes, nursing homes, and community living settings. The type of assistance varies with each individual’s need and can include activities of daily living (ADLs) like dressing, bathing, and eating. Some individuals may receive assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) like housekeeping and meal preparation. Others need vocational development assistance. Do you have what it takes?
Ask yourself if you have the skills it takes to be a DCW:
- Do you enjoy working with people, particularly older adults and persons with disabilities?
- Are you kind, patient and a good listener?
- Are you dependable?
- Are you flexible and able to multitask?
- Are you willing to learn new ways of doing things?
- Are you willing to learn about and honor the values and preferences of the person you are assisting?
If you answered “Yes” to these questions, you have some of the innate skills needed to be a DCW. Job training is also critical for success to ensure that you provide support and services in the safest, most person-centered and professional way possible. This benefits you as well as your clients.