Working in domiciliary care is incredibly rewarding, but did you know that it’s also a varied and highly stimulating career choice?
Domiciliary care means care given to individuals in their own home. As a domiciliary carer, you will enable an elderly, sick or disabled person to retain independence and enhance not only their quality of life, but that of their family and friends, too.
So what does the role involve? There’s no short answer, because it could include many different things. Here are some of the most common responsibilities:
Personal care
Domiciliary roles often involve providing personal care, such as helping a client to wash, dress, do their hair and enjoy meals comfortably.
Cooking and preparing food
You can help people maintain a healthy diet and continue to get enjoyment from their food by preparing nutritious meals.
Medication support
You will be trained in how to safely administer medication, or you may simply assist an individual with taking medication through regular prompts.
Household tasks
Domiciliary services often include help with jobs around the house, from cleaning and tidying, to helping with care of pets, gardening, basic maintenance tasks and much more.
Running errands
You could be entrusted with various responsibilities, from doing the weekly shop to posting mail, and even walking the dog.
Companionship
One of the most important aspects of domiciliary care is providing companionship, whether that’s hearing someone’s stories over a cup of tea, offering emotional support when times are tough or helping them continue to enjoy their hobbies or interests.
Appointments
You might be called upon to escort a client to appointments, or to an event or activity, being on hand to offer them support whenever needed.
Admin
Domiciliary care services could involve helping somebody stay up to date with paying their bills, planning their weekly meals and writing shopping lists, plus other important admin jobs.
Communicating with their network
As well as forming a meaningful relationship with your client, it’s likely that you’ll also get to know their family and friends, and become an integral part of their wider support network. You may be asked to provide regular care updates or simply to be a reliable, friendly face they will appreciate hugely.
Of course, working in domiciliary care often involves supporting several clients, and no day is the same as the last. Every client will have unique needs, and you will be able to help each one in different ways, using a wide variety of skills every single day. It’s one of the reasons domiciliary care is such an interesting career path.