HEALTHCARE
Direct Care Worker
About
Direct Care Workers
Direct Care Workers Play a crucial role in supporting individuals in need. Daily responsibilities include assisting with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and mobility. Caring extends to companionship, attentive listening, and emotional support. By advocating for each person's unique needs, DCWs promote the independence and well-being of their clients, making them an integral part of the healthcare workforce.
Learn MoreA Day In the Life of A Direct Care Worker
Direct Care Workers are shaping the future of compassionate care.
Being a Direct Care Worker, is more than just a job – it's a deeply fulfilling calling. You not only learn foundational healthcare skills but also build connections, offer emotional support, and make a real impact. This role isn't just about emotional connection to the work; it also offers many different career paths, from helping patients to working in an office or doing research. Your options are wide, and the career grows with your goals!
Ready to turn compassion into a career?
Current OpportunitiesMeet Crizeida Avitia
Walk through the roles, responsibilities, and the genuine connections that define each day, offering you a firsthand look into the meaningful and varied experiences within the Direct Care Worker Profession.
Occupation
Associate Director, Home Care Based Services (HCBS)
What is your favorite aspect of your work, day-to-day?
Assuring our members have the assistance they need to continue living independently in their homes.
What one skill, in your opinion, is necessary to be good at your job?
Having "heart". A fellow coworker once told me, "we can teach this (brain, skills, processes), but we cannot teach this (heart).
Tell us about your career pathway. What did you do before your current career?
Before becoming an Associate Director of HCBS, I was a caregiver, a staffing specialist, program coordinator & program manager - all within the same company. Being able to work in these different roles, I was able to combine skills from each position to become the Associate Director.
What is one thing you would love to share with future professionals in your occupation?
Never turn down an opportunity to advance/grow! We may not see the experience or talent we possess that others do.
If I had known…what is one thing you wish you had been aware of at entry into the field? One thing you would have done differently?
I wish I would have been aware about burnout, how to cope with it or resources that would help me cope. This way, I could show/teach others how to deal with the stress of being a caregiver.
EXPLORE
FIND YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS
Get an idea of what your career path could look like for a Direct Care Worker (DCW).
PATHWAYS
Assist with basic care under nursing staff supervision, including health monitoring, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, ambulation, and potential medication administration.
Entry Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent
Promote community health by encouraging healthy behaviors, advocating for health needs, facilitating communication with healthcare providers and social services, and implementing programs to enhance overall well-being.
Entry Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent, entry level training.
Assisting individuals in maintaining recovery and preventing relapse.
Entry Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent, entry level training.
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.
Entry Requirements
Some college, no degree
Support assisted living residents with daily activities, including bathing, dressing, eating, medication administration, and group activities, with a specialization in memory care services.
Entry Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent, entry level training.
Support individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues, providing essential assistance and monitoring behaviors as part of treatment plans under licensed professional supervision.
Entry Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent, entry level training.
Compile, compute, and record billing, accounting, statistical, and other numerical data for billing purposes. Prepare billing invoices for services rendered or for delivery or shipment of goods.
Entry Requirements
Some college, no degree
Support physicians with administrative tasks and perform clinical duties including vital signs, medical history, patient preparation, blood drawing, and medication administration.
Entry Requirements
Certificate
DIRECT CARE WORKER SUPPORTING PROGRAMS
DEGREES, CERTIFICATIONS, COURSES
PROGRAMS
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