Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations

Overview

Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations, provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities and convalescent clients. They provide care in the client's residence, where they may also reside. They are employed by home care and support agencies, private households, or they may be self-employed.

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Provide care and companionship for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, convalescence or family disruption

  • Administer bedside and personal care to clients such as aid in ambulation, bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing and undressing

  • Plan and prepare meals and special diets, and feed or assist in feeding clients

  • May perform routine health-related duties such as changing non-sterile dressings, assisting in the administration of medications and collecting specimens under the general direction of home care agency supervisor or nurse

  • May perform routine housekeeping duties such as laundry, washing dishes and making beds.

Job titles

  • attendant for persons with a visual impairment - home care
  • attendant for persons with disabilities - home care
  • client care attendant - home care
  • companion
  • domestic helper
  • doula

Employment prospects

Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2023 edition

Annual salary

Low

$38,062

Median

$47,760

High

$54,226

Job openings

Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.

British Columbia

1,965

expected job openings (5-year forecast)

Education and training

Employment requirements

  • Some secondary school education is usually required.

  • Home management experience may be required.

  • College or other courses in home support may be required.

Additional information

  • There is mobility among the occupations in this group.

Certification requirements

Optional: The following certification are optional to practice as Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations in B.C.

  • Registration with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry - Home Support Workers

Registration with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry - Home Support Workers

Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.

To work as a Health Care Assistant in B.C., you must register with the B.C. Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry. Eligibility is achieved by successfully completing a recognized HCA program.

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Work Experience

Work experience recommended

Post-secondary programs in B.C.

No post-secondary education required

No post-secondary education required. You can work in this career without post-secondary education. Some on the job training may be provided. With additional training or experience, you may be able to progress into higher level, supervisory or management positions.

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