Home Care Aide Personal Care Workers
SaveWhat Does a Home Care Aide Do?
Home care aides provide personal assistance and promote autonomy, on a daily basis to individuals who are unable to take care of themselves due to illness, ageing or disability. They assist them with personal hygiene, feeding, communication or medication according to the health care professional's instructions.
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Where Do I Start?
Disability Care
The specific methods and practices used in providing care to people with physical, intellectual and learning disabilities.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Home Care Aide
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialDisability Care knowledge
The specific methods and practices used in providing care to people with physical, intellectual and learning disabilities.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialFirst Response knowledge
The procedures of pre-hospital care for medical emergencies, such as first aid, resuscitation techniques, legal and ethical issues, patient assessment, trauma emergencies.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialOlder Adults' Needs knowledge
The physical, mental, and social needs of frail, older adults.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialDisability Types knowledge
The nature and types of disabilities affecting the human beings such as physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional or developmental and the specific needs and access requirements of disabled people.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAssist Clients With Special Needs skill
Aid clients with special needs following relevant guidelines and special standards. Recognise their needs and accurately respond to them if needed.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssist Social Service Users With Physical Disabilities skill
Help service users with mobility problems and other physical disabilities such as incontinence, assisting in the use and care of aids and personal equipment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEvaluate Older Adults' Ability To Take Care Of Themselves skill
Assess the condition of an older patient and decide if he or she needs assistance in taking care of him- or herself to eat or to bathe and in meeting …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialIron Textiles skill
Press and iron in order to shape or flatten textiles giving them their final finishing appearance. Iron by hand or with steam pressers.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPrepare Sandwiches skill
Make filled and open sandwiches, paninis and kebabs.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialSupport Social Service Users To Live At Home skill
Support social service users to develop their own personal resources and work with them to access additional resources, services and facilities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAccompany People skill
Chaperon individuals on trips, to events or appointments or to go shopping.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialApply First Response skill
Respond to medical or trauma emergencies and care for the patient in a manner compliant with health and safety regulations, assessing the legal and ethical issues of the situation, and …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssist Disabled Passengers skill
Use appropriate safety procedures to operate lifts and secure wheelchairs and other assistive devices while assisting physically disabled travellers.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialBuy Groceries skill
Purchase ingredients, products and tools that are necessary for daily housekeeping activities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialKeep Company skill
Be with people to do stuff together, such as talking, playing games or having a drink.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMake The Beds skill
Clean sheets, turn mattresses, plump pillows and change cushions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMonitor Patient's Health Condition skill
Frequently examine the mental or physical health condition of a patient, monitor the use of medication and report on their condition to your superiors or to the patient's family.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPrepare Ready-made Dishes skill
Get ready for serving snacks and sandwiches or heat up ready-made bar products if requested.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide In-home Support For Disabled Individuals skill
Assist individuals with disabilities in their own homes and with daily living tasks such as washing, dressing, eating and transport, helping them to achieve independence.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialSupport Individuals To Adjust To Physical Disability skill
Assist individuals to adjust to the implications of physical disability and to understand the new responsibilities and level of dependency.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialTend To Elderly People skill
Help elderly people in their physical, mental, and social needs.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWash The Dishes skill
Wash plates, glasses, silverware and cooking gear used for a meal, by hand or by use of a dish washer. Put everything back in its place afterwards.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWash The Laundry skill
Wash or clean clothes by hand or by use of a washing machine.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 27 displayed)
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OptionalFood Allergies knowledge
The types of food allergies within the sector, which substances trigger allergies, and how they can be replaced or eliminated (if possible).
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalHearing Disability knowledge
Impairment of the ability to discern and process sounds naturally.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalMobility Disability knowledge
Impairment of the ability to physically move naturally.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalVisual Disability knowledge
Impairment of the ability to naturally discern and process viewed images.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalAdminister Appointments skill
Accept, schedule and cancel appointments.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAssist Disabled Individuals To Participate In Community Activities skill
Facilitate disabled individuals` inclusion in the community and support them to establish and maintain relationships through access to community activities, venues and services.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalClean Rooms skill
Clean rooms by cleaning glasswork and windows, polishing furniture, vacuuming carpets, scrubing hard floors, and removing garbage.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalClean Surfaces skill
Disinfect surfaces in accordance with sanitary standards.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalFeed Pets skill
Make sure that pets are given appropriate food and water on time.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalLift Heavy Weights skill
Lift heavy weights and apply ergonomic lifting techniques to avoid damaging the body.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalListen Actively skill
Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide Dog Walking Services skill
Provide dog-walking services, including activities such as agreement of services with the customer, selection and use of handling equipment, interaction with the dog, and safe and responsible dog walking.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide First Aid skill
Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalShow Social Competences skill
Ability to interact effectively with other people.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse Cooking Techniques skill
Apply cooking techniques including grilling, frying, boiling, braising, poaching, baking or roasting.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse Food Preparation Techniques skill
Apply food preparation techniques including the selecting, washing, cooling, peeling, marinating, preparing of dressings and cutting of ingredients.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalWork Ergonomically skill
Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAdvise Patients On Health And Lifestyle Issues skill
Advise patients on issues related to health and lifestyle, such as exercise, nutrition, and sleep habits.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAssess Risks For The Elderly skill
Visit the patient`s home to identify environmental factors that contribute to falls or other injuries of the elderly present.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalClean Household Linens skill
Wash linens such as sheets, towels and table cloths with water and soap or detergent. Clean linens by hand or by the use of a washing machine.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalHandle Linen In Stock skill
Manage laundered items and store them in safe and hygienic conditions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Dusting Activities skill
Remove dust from furniture, blinds and windowsills using specialised dust cloths or hand-cleaning items.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPrepare Dietary Meals skill
Prepare and cook special meals, according to the dietary needs or restrictions of the individual or group of people targeted.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPrevent Domestic Accidents skill
Analyse the risk factors linked to domestic accidents and propose prevention actions or equipments in the care recipients home and surroundings.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPromote Healthy Lifestyle skill
Provide information to clients about the role of physical activity, modes of exercise and related services and the importance of healthy activities for daily living.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPromote Prevention Of Social Isolation skill
Promote the use of ICT devices in order to prevent the care recipient to loose contact with his social environment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalVacuum Surfaces skill
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and small particles from floors, drapes, carpets or furniture.
Course recommendations coming soon.