The caregiver job description, in plain words
This is the full caregiver job description at Aloha Senior Home Care: what you would do on a shift, what you would never be asked to do, what we need from you, and what we pay. Read it before you apply, so there are no surprises on either side.
- Job title
- Caregiver / Home Care Aide
- Where
- In clients' homes across San Diego County
- Hours
- Part time and full time, depending on the assignments open at the time
- Pay
- $20 to $25 an hour, depending on experience, qualifications and the position
- Shifts
- Daytime, evening, overnight, weekend, holiday and extended shifts
Aloha Senior Home Care is a licensed California non medical home care agency serving San Diego County. Our caregivers help older adults and people who need a hand with daily life stay independent, safe and comfortable in their own homes.
We support older adults, people with physical limitations, clients living with dementia or Parkinsons disease, and clients receiving hospice services. We are looking for dependable, warm, professional caregivers who take the work seriously.
What a Shift Actually Involves
Ten parts to the role. Open the ones you want to know about — most people go straight to the personal care, the transfers or the dementia support.
Personal care and hygiene
Helping with the parts of the day that have become harder, always with privacy and dignity.
Personal care and hygiene
Helping with the parts of the day that have become harder, always with privacy and dignity.
- Bathing, showering and sponge baths
- Dressing and undressing
- Grooming, hair care, oral hygiene and denture care
- Using the toilet, a bedside commode or a urinal
- Routine incontinence care, including changing adult briefs and underpads
- External perineal cleansing
- Changing soiled clothing and bedding
- Noticing and reporting skin changes, bruising or irritation
Caregivers do not perform wound treatment, surgical dressing changes or any nursing procedure.
Mobility and transfers
Helping someone move around their own home without fear of a fall.
Mobility and transfers
Helping someone move around their own home without fear of a fall.
- Walking alongside a client and steadying them
- Getting into and out of bed
- Transfers between bed, chair, wheelchair and toilet
- Safe use of a walker, a cane or other mobility aids
- Routine repositioning for comfort
- Keeping walkways clear, and reporting anything that looks like a fall risk
- Reporting changes in mobility, weakness or dizziness
Some clients need a two person transfer or a mechanical lift. Caregivers are trained for that client before they do it, and follow the care plan. Caregivers never attempt an unsafe transfer and never lift a fallen client from the floor on their own outside our safety procedure.
Meals and eating
Cooking what someone actually likes, and helping when eating has become difficult.
Meals and eating
Cooking what someone actually likes, and helping when eating has become difficult.
- Planning and cooking breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
- Cooking to a client's preferences and to the dietary instructions in their care plan
- Grocery shopping and keeping the kitchen stocked
- Helping a client eat when that has become difficult, including cutting food up
- Offering drinks through the day
- Washing up and keeping the kitchen clean
- Reporting changes in appetite, intake or swallowing
Caregivers do not feed through a tube, do not prescribe a diet, and do not change dietary restrictions on their own.
Company and emotional support
The part of the job that is hardest to put on a list, and the part families notice most.
Company and emotional support
The part of the job that is hardest to put on a list, and the part families notice most.
- Conversation, and a steady friendly presence
- Encouraging hobbies and the things a client still enjoys
- Reading the paper or a book together
- Games, music and outings that suit the client
- Walks and approved trips out
- Helping a client stay in touch with family and friends
- Company through the quiet parts of the day
- Respecting a client's routines, culture and preferences
- Encouraging a client to keep doing what they can safely do themselves
Caregivers offer company and reassurance. Caregivers do not provide therapy or clinical counseling.
Dementia and Alzheimers support
Non medical support for clients living with dementia, Alzheimers and other cognitive change.
Dementia and Alzheimers support
Non medical support for clients living with dementia, Alzheimers and other cognitive change.
- Keeping routines and familiar activities steady
- Speaking calmly and patiently
- Gently redirecting a client who is confused or distressed
- Supervision and company
- Help with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and moving safely
- Watching for and reporting changes in behavior, confusion, agitation or wandering
- Activities that suit where the client is today
Caregivers do not diagnose dementia, do not prescribe any treatment for behavior, and never use restraint or confinement.
Hospice and end of life support
Non medical personal care and company for clients who are receiving hospice services.
Hospice and end of life support
Non medical personal care and company for clients who are receiving hospice services.
- Bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting and incontinence care
- Company and reassurance
- Routine repositioning for comfort where it is safe
- Clean bedding and a comfortable room
- Ordinary help with eating and drinking
- Steady, dependable support for the family
- Reporting changes to the office and to the hospice team
Caregivers work alongside hospice nurses, never in place of them. Caregivers do not give morphine, do not adjust oxygen, do not operate a medication pump, do not perform clinical wound care and do not make treatment decisions.
Light housekeeping
Keeping the home clean and safe around the client, tied to their needs.
Light housekeeping
Keeping the home clean and safe around the client, tied to their needs.
- Client laundry, washed, dried, folded and put away
- Making the bed and changing the linen
- Washing up
- Wiping down the kitchen and food preparation areas
- Light vacuuming, sweeping and dusting
- Tidying the bedroom, bathroom and living areas
- Taking out the household rubbish
- Keeping personal care supplies in order
Caregivers are not housekeepers. Deep cleaning, carpet shampooing, heavy furniture moving, hazardous cleaning and property maintenance are not part of the role, and housekeeping for other members of the household is not automatically included.
Medication reminders
What California allows a non medical home care aide to do, and nothing beyond it.
Medication reminders
What California allows a non medical home care aide to do, and nothing beyond it.
- Reminding a client when it is time to take something
- Bringing over the container or the pill organiser they already have
- Offering water
- Reading a label aloud if asked
- Reporting anything that looks wrong about the routine
- Telling the office if a client refuses or reports a problem
Caregivers do not decide a dose, do not prescribe, do not give injections, and do not perform any medication task that requires a license.
Driving and errands
On assignments where it applies, and where the caregiver is approved to drive.
Driving and errands
On assignments where it applies, and where the caregiver is approved to drive.
- Going along to medical appointments
- Driving to approved destinations
- Grocery shopping
- Collecting prescriptions and household supplies
- Going along to social activities
- Helping a client in and out of the car safely
Driving assignments require our transportation policy, driver qualifications and insurance. Not every position involves driving, and not every caregiver is approved to drive clients.
Noticing things, and saying so
You see the client more often than anyone. What you notice is the early warning.
Noticing things, and saying so
You see the client more often than anyone. What you notice is the early warning.
- Watching for changes in how someone looks, behaves, moves and manages the day
- Spotting hazards around the home
- Reporting falls, injuries, symptoms and changes in condition
- Following the emergency procedure
- Raising concerns with the office
- Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation or unsafe living conditions
- Following infection prevention and hygiene procedures
- Keeping accurate, factual notes of the visit
Caregivers report what they see. Caregivers do not diagnose.
What a caregiver is never asked to do
Aloha Senior Home Care is a non medical agency. These are nursing and medical tasks, and they are not part of the caregiver position:
Some tasks need extra training, client specific instruction, agency approval or a licensed professional. A caregiver never performs a task outside their training, their legal authorization or the care plan.
- Never injections, insulin or any other shot
- Never intravenous therapy
- Never assessing, packing, debriding or dressing a wound
- Never inserting, replacing or irrigating a catheter
- Never feeding, or giving medication, through a tube
- Never deciding a dose, or giving medication that needs a license
- Never prescribing or adjusting oxygen
- Never physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Never diagnosing, and never writing a nursing plan
- Never an invasive bowel procedure
- Never changing a prescribed treatment plan
What We Need From You
Required
- A compassionate, dependable, professional way of working
- Clear communication with clients, families and our office
- Able to follow written and spoken care instructions
- Able to perform the role safely, with reasonable accommodation where that applies
- Able to keep client information private
- Meets California Home Care Aide registration, background clearance and training requirements
- Meets tuberculosis screening and health requirements
- Legally authorized to work in the United States
- Reliable attendance, and willing to follow agency policy
Helpful, not essential
- Previous caregiving experience, professional or for family
- Experience with older adults
- Experience with dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinsons or hospice clients
- CNA or HHA training
- Experience with safe transfers, mobility and incontinence care
- CPR and first aid
- A valid driver license, reliable transport and suitable car insurance for assignments that involve driving
CNA certification is not a general requirement to work as a California home care aide. If you have not done this professionally before but you have the right qualities, apply anyway. Every caregiver meets California registration, background clearance, training and agency requirements before working with a client on their own.
Shifts and schedules
Schedules follow client need and what is open at the time.
- Short shifts
- Morning and afternoon shifts
- Full day shifts
- Evening shifts
- Overnight shifts
- Eight hour and twelve hour shifts
- Weekends and holidays
- Individual shifts supporting clients who need care around the clock
Hours available depend on client demand, your availability, where you are, and your experience. We do not guarantee a set number of hours unless an employment agreement says so. Tell us the days, hours and areas that suit you when you apply.
The physical side
Caregiving is active work. Depending on the assignment you may need to:
- Be on your feet for long stretches
- Bend and reach while helping with personal care
- Help someone move safely around their home
- Help with approved transfers
- Support someone using a walker or a wheelchair
- Do light household tasks
Requirements vary by assignment, with reasonable accommodation where that applies.
What we expect
The ordinary professional things, which matter more in someone's home than in an office.
- Turn up on time
- Follow the care plan and our procedures
- Record your hours accurately
- Keep client information private
- Tell us early about a scheduling conflict
- Report incidents and changes in condition
- Keep professional boundaries with clients and families
- Treat clients with dignity and respect
- Follow infection prevention and safety procedures
- Complete the documentation
- Communicate professionally with everyone
- Follow the procedure when a shift cannot be completed, and never leave a client who needs supervision
The Questions People Ask Before They Apply
Straight answers to what San Diego families ask us most. Do not see yours? We are one call away.
Do caregivers have to change diapers?
Some assignments do include toileting and incontinence care: changing adult briefs, keeping someone clean and comfortable, and changing soiled clothing or bedding. Others are mostly company and light help around the house. It depends on the client, and we will tell you plainly which kind of assignment you are being offered.
Do caregivers have to lift clients?
Some clients need help moving. How much varies a lot. We look at the client's needs, the equipment in the home, your training and safe handling requirements before we match anyone, and our hiring team will talk you through the physical side of any position before you take it.
Do I need to be a CNA?
No. CNA certification is not required for every caregiver position, and it is not a general requirement to work as a home care aide in California. CNA training and previous experience help for some assignments.
Do I have to give medications or injections?
No. Aloha Senior Home Care is a non medical agency. Caregivers may remind a client that it is time to take something and help with medication the client takes themselves, following our policy. Giving injections and other nursing procedures are not part of the position.
How much do caregivers get paid?
Caregiver positions generally pay $20 to $25 an hour, depending on your experience, your qualifications and the position itself. Our hiring team will confirm the rate for the opportunities open when you apply.
Will I have to cook and clean?
Many assignments include cooking, washing up, the client's laundry, changing linen and keeping the home clean and safe. That is light housekeeping tied to the client's needs. Caregivers are not professional housekeepers and deep cleaning or property maintenance is not part of the role.
Do you work with clients who have dementia?
Yes. We provide non medical support to clients living with dementia and Alzheimers: personal care, steady routines, company, supervision and gentle redirection. Assignments are matched to the client's needs and your qualifications.
Do caregivers work with hospice clients?
Yes. Caregivers provide non medical personal care, company and comfort for clients receiving hospice services. The medical and clinical side stays with the licensed hospice professionals, and caregivers work alongside them.
Can I work only weekends?
Weekend assignments come up depending on what clients need. Tell us the days and hours that suit you when you apply and our hiring team will talk through what is open.
Do you have overnight or twelve hour shifts?
Some clients need overnight care or longer shifts, including twelve hour assignments. What is available depends on client need at the time.
Still have a question? Call us at (858) 399-1400.
If that sounds like work you would be good at, we would like to meet you
Fill in the application and our hiring team will read it. Tell us the days and hours that suit you, and the areas of San Diego you can reach.
Questions first? Talk to our team