“I’ve tried everything I know to do,” said one.

“Nothing ever works with Joe!” said another.

“I’m going to try what I just learned in my caregiver class,” said the third of the three caregivers huddled in the hall.

They knew that Joe hadn’t bathed now in several days, and his out-of-town daughter was coming to visit that afternoon.  It would reflect poorly on their care if Joe was clearly a little too musky for comfort – not to mention making it tough for the daughter to relax and enjoy the visit.

One hour later Joe emerged from the bathroom with slicked-back, shiny hair and the scent of fresh soap, instead of the reek of body odor.  The successful caregiver also had a glow, knowing she had achieved what seemed impossible.  Even more important, it had been a positive experience for both Joe and his caregiver.

All three caregivers had good hearts.  All three wanted to be the best caregivers they could be.  The difference?  Good training that taught the one caregiver important skills that increased her ability to be the best caregiver possible.

Personal Care Aide (PCA) Certifications are just emerging as one form of caregiver certification that is uniquely designed to prepare the caregiver for home-style caregiving.  They typically cover all the basic skills required for care, including skills in communication, decision-making and respect for the rights of the person in their care.  They reinforce, through the training, principles of independence, choice, dignity and privacy.  A caregiver learns to see challenges through the eyes of the client, and to include families in the unit of care.  Within the coming decade PCA Certification will likely become the minimum standard for all direct-care workers.

For now, it is one way for families to feel increased confidence that the person providing care has more than a good heart:  she has skills and a unique understanding of the difference a good caregiver can make in enriching the lives of the people in her care.

Learn more about IPCed’s Personal Care Aide Certification course

It’s scary. It means trusting someone you don’t know well to care for someone you love and feel responsible for.

Your stomach churns and there’s a sick feeling deep down. Your mind circles around the fear: what if the caregiver doesn’t listen to her? What if she speaks sharply to her, or is rough with her?

You worry if she really has the skills and knowledge to provide the care your mother needs, and the judgment to know what to do if something awful happens (a fall? wandering off?).

You wonder if your mom will ever forgive you for not caring for her yourself; for turning to strangers to provide care.

Here’s one idea, though, that’s gaining a lot of traction nationally: make sure that the caregiver has solid, formal training with a certification to show for it.

It’s a fast-growing field for training, and new online courses like our Personal Care Aide Certification course make certification available to anyone with an internet connection. Ask – and expect – anyone who provides caregiving to your loved one to be appropriately certified.

It might not take away the initial “first day” jitters, but it will give you a sense that you’ve taken one more step to ensure the safety and care of your loved one.