Home care is a career that takes care of you.

Home care supports older adults, people of all ages with disabilities, and people with behavioral and mental health needs. Home care professionals provide support with daily activities so people can live independently at home and in their communities.

Home care supports people at home and in the community with essential daily tasks that help them thrive and live as independently as possible. This may include assisting with eating and making meals, shopping, traveling to appointments or grocery stores, managing medication, using the toilet, walking, bathing and supporting individuals at their jobs.

Working in home care makes a real difference in people’s lives. You support people with daily tasks so they can live the lives they want to live. The work is rewarding but can also be physically and emotionally challenging. You may need to lift people or heavy objects. You may need to support someone when they are having a hard day. There are trainings to build your skills and help you get ready!

People with disabilities may need different types of support to live safely and independently. Here’s an overview:

Physical disabilities: Affect the body and movement.

• Examples: Difficulty walking, using hands, dementia, or conditions such as cerebral palsy that can affect balance.
• Workers can help with bathing, dressing, eating, and moving around.

Developmental disabilities: Affect how people grow and learn, often starting at a young age.

• Examples: Autism or Down syndrome.
• Workers can help with routines like morning hygiene, preparing meals, or managing appointments.

Intellectual disabilities: Affect how people think, learn, or solve problems.

• Example: Below average IQ.
• Workers can help with routines like planning the day, keeping mealtimes, safety and social skills, following task steps, shopping, and making decisions.

Mental/behavioral health conditions: Affect mental health and emotional well-being, impacting daily life.

• Examples: Depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Workers can help by encouraging routines, scheduling therapy appointments, and assisting with dressing, transportation, or housework.

Invisible disabilities: Affect daily life, often without visible symptoms.

• Examples: Examples: Chronic pain, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or epilepsy.
• Workers can help by managing medicine schedules, supporting health routines, or helping with tasks like cleaning, and transportation.

No. You do not need to have worked in home care before. Free trainings will help you build the skills you need to be successful.

Home care jobs pay more than minimum wage, starting at $20 per hour. Workers can earn extra through certifications, experience and hours worked.

Certifications that increase pay include:

• CPR/1st Aid: Adds $0.25 per hour.
• Professional Development Certification (PDC): Adds $0.75 per hour.
• Ventilator-Dependent Quadriplegia (VDQ) Certification: Adds $3 per hour.
• Enhanced Certification: Adds $1 per hour (stacks with PDC for a total of $1.75 per hour and stacks with VDQ for a total of $4 per hour).
• Exceptional Certification: Adds $3 per hour.

Training for these certifications is free through the Oregon Home Care Commission, and some trainings even offer a stipend for attending. These jobs are unionized, which helps improve pay, benefits, and working conditions. Base pay can increase every two years through collective bargaining.