20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
A shift usually mixes personal care and household tasks. Mornings often start with helping the client wash and dress, checking pulse/temperature, and reminding or giving morning medications. You’ll help with breakfast, feed if needed, and tidy dishes and laundry related to incontinence.
Afternoons can include errands or shopping, light housework, meal prep, record-keeping in Microsoft Word or Excel, companionship like reading aloud, and checking for changes in condition to report to a supervisor or case manager. Evenings repeat meds and safe transfers.
You must have basic health-care training for tasks like changing simple dressings and taking pulse, temperature, and respiration. Many employers require a certified nursing assistant (CNA) course or a first-aid/CPR certificate. The exact rules depend on state law and the employer.
If you’re working for an agency, they usually train you and expect documentation in Microsoft Word or Excel. For anything beyond simple wound care or medication administration, a licensed nurse should supervise or perform the task.
You’ll use Word to write daily care notes and incident reports. Keep short, factual records: time, vitals, medications given, and any changes in condition to report to the case manager. Use Excel for simple logs or schedules—medication charts, shopping lists, or hours worked.
Outlook helps schedule appointments, send messages to supervisors, and receive medication or visit updates. Employers often expect typed records, so basic skills—opening files, saving, and attaching—are enough to start.
Caregivers focus on daily living support: bathing, feeding, cleaning, companionship, safe transfers, and shopping. They often do housekeeping, prepare meals, and help with incontinence laundry. They promote autonomy and emotional support.
Home health aides can do similar tasks but may have more clinical training and can perform limited medical tasks under supervision. Nurses (LPN/RN) handle clinical care like complex wound care, prescription changes, and clinical assessments that caregivers must report to a nurse or case manager.
You’ll do frequent bending, standing, and helping with transfers and mobility. Expect to assist clients in and out of bed, chairs, or baths; use proper body mechanics: bend knees, keep the back straight, and hold the client close. If the client needs heavy lifting, use a mechanical lift when available.
Report unsafe conditions and document incidents in Word or Excel. Employers should provide training on safe transfers. If a client’s mobility exceeds your training, ask for nurse assessment or additional equipment.
AI can help with mundane office tasks: draft care notes, create medication schedules in Word or Excel, or turn a voice memo into text. Use AI to format documents and generate shopping lists or simple reminders but always check facts and correct wording.
Never rely on AI for medical decisions, diagnoses, or medication instructions. Always verify vitals, changes in condition, and clinical recommendations with a nurse or case manager, and keep final records in your employer’s approved systems.