
What is home care?
Home care professionals help older adults, people with disabilities of all ages and those with behavioral or mental health needs. They provide support at home, in the community or at work. This may include help with dressing, bathing, eating, job coaching and more.
Working in home care means making a difference in someone’s life. And it gives you the flexibility to live yours.
Home care job benefits
People who work in home care qualify for benefits when they meet certain requirements. These benefits include:
- Paid time off
- Overtime pay
- Health care options
- Dental and vision coverage
- Employee Assistance Program
- OregonSaves retirement savings account
- Flexible hours
- Free training to build your skills and increase pay
With many home care jobs open in Oregon, now is the perfect time to start a career that fits your life and makes a real difference in someone else’s.

Which home care roles are right for you?
Find home care roles that match your skills and interests by taking our quick quiz.
Homecare Worker (HCW)

Provide in-home care for older adults and people with physical disabilities. Help with daily tasks, personal care and mobility to help people live more independently.
Personal Support Worker (PSW)

Support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Help with daily living, personal care and life skills at home and in their community.
Personal Care Attendant (PCA)

Help people with behavioral or mental health needs. Assist with daily living activities, medication reminders and coping strategies.
Personal Support Worker Job Coach (PSWJC)

Help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to get, learn and keep the jobs of their choice in the workplace. Provide on-the-job coaching, training and accommodations. They help individuals build confidence and stay employed.
- Older adults and people with disabilities who get services through the state
- The Oregon Department of Human Services
- You may help older people on a more regular basis. That may include helping more often with movement and self-care tasks like walking, dressing, and hygiene and health-related needs. There may be more lifting needed as you support mobility.
- Children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who get services through the state
- The Oregon Department of Human Services
- You may help with self care and health-related tasks as well as day-to-day living. This can include eating and cooking, grocery shopping and managing medicine. You may also work with children more often. There may be more lifting needed as you support mobility.
- You support a range of people and needs. There are free trainings so you have the skills you need. You agree with them on the tasks you do before you start working.
- People experiencing behavioral or mental health needs who get services through the state
- The Oregon Health Authority, through Comagine Health
- You may help people more often with organizing their day-to-day living. That can be things like meal prep, housekeeping, grocery shopping and managing medication.
- You support a range of people and needs. There are free trainings so you have the skills you need. You agree with them on the tasks you do before you start working.
- People with intellectual or developmental disabilities who work and get services through the state
- The Oregon Department of Human Services
- You help people meet their career goals at work. You may help to grow job skills, interact with coworkers and provide transportation. You may be in public settings more often and engage with other people on a more regular basis, compared to other home care roles.
As a Personal Support Worker Job Coach, you also enroll as a Personal Support Worker. You have extra trainings and requirements beyond core training.
- Feel free to adjust your answers to try to find a position that fits with your interests.
Your path to a home care career
FAQs
Have questions? We have the answers you’re looking for.
About Home Care
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.
Job skills and growth
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.
Pay and benefits
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.
Ready to take the next step?
Looking for your first job, a new career or a flexible schedule? Home care may be for you. Support older adults, people of all ages with disabilities or people with behavioral and mental health needs at home, in their community or at work.
Still have questions? Contact us using the form below.
