Becoming a Paid Home Care Worker

National Caregivers Day (February 16) is a great way our community can honor all of the hard work and dedication our local caregivers provide to older adults in Lane County. Not only do caregivers provide the much needed personal and physical care of our consumers, they also provide emotional support for those in need. So how can you thank a caregiver in your community? Here are 5 easy ways to show your appreciation to a very hard working group of individuals:

1. Simply be with them. Ask how they are doing, lend a listening ear or a supportive shoulder to lean on. Caregiving can take it’s toll mentally, given that a lot of our providers work with family members. Just being there and listening can go a long way!
2. Find ways for them to get a break. A large majority of our caregivers provide weekend, overnight and long hour support. Maybe you know a friend who could provide some respite care or could help arrange some family members to help out?
3. Actively demonstrate your support. Could the caregiver in your life benefit from a home cooked meal that they didn’t have to prepare themselves? Perhaps they simply need help with some household chores or running errands. Any small act of kindness and thoughtfulness can make a huge difference in a caregivers life!
4. Tell them how grateful you are for the work they do. Is anyone really told enough how much they’re appreciated professionally? A simple gesture of receiving a card in the mail, an arrangement of flowers or a pat on the back for a job well done – these can all serve as awesome reminders of how much their work is valued.
5. Encourage their self care. It can be easy to forget to care for yourself when you are constantly caring for others. Maybe you’ve recently learned of a community resource in your area that you found helpful and could share? Or you could ask a caregiver if they’ve taken time to schedule their wellness checkups recently. Remember, if their cup is empty they’ll have nothing left to give.

Any person who is interested in becoming a paid Home Care Worker through the state of Oregon is encouraged to contact at the Home Care Worker Application Team at 833 Willamette Street Eugene, OR 97401, call 541-682-3498, or email hcwa@lcog.org. Applicants will need two valid forms of ID (Oregon issued ID card and Social Security card are the most common) and to complete the application packet. The individual’s information will be run through a state background check process to determine if they are eligible for employment. Also required is an in person orientation class, followed by two self-paced, online core trainings. Home Care Workers are required to renew their provider credentials every two years by submitting renewal paperwork at their local office.