What Is a Caregiver? Types, Duties and Paid vs. Unpaid Roles
What Is a Caregiver? Types, Duties and Paid vs. Unpaid Roles
Short answer: A caregiver helps a person in need, ranging from unpaid relatives to trained professionals. In Pennsylvania, non-medical caregivers are called direct care workers. They assist with daily living activities so your loved one can stay safely at home.
- Caregivers range from unpaid family members to licensed agency professionals.
- Non-medical caregivers assist with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and household tasks.
- Pennsylvania law refers to agency-employed caregivers as direct care workers.
- Family members can sometimes get paid to care for loved ones through the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver.
- Medical tasks like wound care or injections require a Medicare-certified home health aide or nurse, not a non-medical caregiver.
What Is the Definition of a Caregiver?
A caregiver is a person who tends to the needs of someone requiring assistance due to aging, illness, or a disability. This role takes many forms. Often, it begins with an unpaid family member helping out around the house or running errands. When a person needs more support to stay safely at home, families hire professionals.
Under Pennsylvania law (28 Pa. Code Chapter 611), non-medical professionals who provide home care services are called direct care workers. These workers help your loved one maintain their independence. They do not provide medical treatments.
A home care agency schedules employees to provide non-skilled services. This means caregivers do not perform wound care, give injections, administer IVs, or conduct nursing assessments. Those are skilled services that require a licensed nurse or therapist. You can learn more about these distinctions in our general caregiver guide.
Types of Caregivers in Pennsylvania
Understanding the different titles helps you find the right level of support. Below is a comparison of common caregiver types you will encounter in Pennsylvania.
| Caregiver Type | Description | PA Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid Family Caregiver | A relative or friend providing informal support. | No formal training required. |
| Paid Family Caregiver | A relative paid through the CHC waiver to provide care. | Cannot be the spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or power of attorney. |
| Agency Caregiver / Direct Care Worker | A professional employed by a licensed non-medical home care agency. | No state license required. Must pass background checks, TB screening, and agency competency checks. |
| Home Health Aide (HHA) | A worker providing personal care alongside skilled medical care for homebound patients. | Requires at least 75 hours of training, 16 hours of practical training, and an RN evaluation. |
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | A medical professional working in facilities or home health. | Must complete a state-approved training program and pass the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide exam. |
If you are unsure which medical credential you need, read about a home health aide vs caregiver or compare a caregiver vs CNA.
What Do Caregivers Do?
A non-medical caregiver assists with the practical tasks of daily life. Pennsylvania defines these tasks in two main categories: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs).
ADLs are basic self-care tasks. Personal care services include hands-on help with bathing, dressing, grooming, and feeding. Caregivers also assist with toileting, bowel and bladder management, and transferring in and out of a bed or chair. They help with ambulation (walking) to prevent falls. They can also assist your loved one in taking self-administered medications.
IADLs are the tasks needed to run a household. Companionship services provide socialization and support with these tasks. A caregiver might prepare meals, do light housework, wash laundry, and help with shopping or using the telephone.
During a shift, a caregiver might also accompany your loved one into the community for grocery shopping or a pharmacy run. They provide routine support for meal planning and health regimens. Read our full breakdown of caregiver duties to see exactly what to expect.
If you are a family member already caring for a loved one in Philadelphia, you may be able to get paid for your work. Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form and select “I am a caregiver” followed by “I already have a client.”
Paid or Unpaid Caregiving in Pennsylvania
Many relatives provide care for free. However, Pennsylvania offers programs that provide financial support to family members.
If your loved one is eligible for the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver, they can hire a family member to be their paid caregiver. The CHC waiver covers Personal Assistance Services. Family members can be paid for this work, but the waiver will not pay a spouse. It also excludes the participant’s legal guardian, representative payee, or power of attorney. Pandemic-era exceptions for these roles ended in 2023.
To get these paid services, your loved one must meet both financial and functional eligibility rules. The CHC service coordinator determines the approved hours in a person-centered service plan. You can work through a licensed agency like New Century Home Care or through the state’s Services My Way participant-directed option. Learn more about how to get paid to care for family.
If your loved one does not qualify for Medicaid, you might still get help from the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program. This program is run by the local Area Agency on Aging, such as the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA). It does not pay wages. Instead, it reimburses you for out-of-pocket caregiving expenses like supplies or respite care. The maximum monthly reimbursement is up to $600.
How to Become a Professional Caregiver
If you want to work for a licensed home care agency in Pennsylvania, you must meet specific state requirements. Agencies must verify your competency before you begin working with clients.
You do not need a CNA license to be a direct care worker. However, you must pass an agency competency exam or complete a training program. State law requires training in specific topics. These include confidentiality, basic infection control, handling emergencies, and recognizing and reporting abuse or neglect. Caregivers also learn how to deal with difficult behaviors and how to safely assist with bathing, shaving, and transferring.
The agency will also conduct an interview. They must check at least two satisfactory references from people not related to you. You must pass a criminal history background check. Finally, you must complete a tuberculosis (TB) screening before contacting a consumer, which must be updated every 12 months.
Find out exactly how to become a caregiver in PA or view our open jobs at New Century Home Care.
Ready to start working as a paid caregiver for your family member in Philadelphia? Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or submit our contact form, choosing “I am a caregiver” then “I already have a client.”
Frequently asked questions
What classifies someone as a caregiver?
A caregiver is anyone who assists another person with daily needs due to age, illness, or disability. In Pennsylvania, professional non-medical caregivers are classified as direct care workers. They help with personal care and household tasks but do not provide skilled medical treatments.
What is the role of a caregiver?
The role of a non-medical caregiver is to help a person live safely at home. They assist with Activities of Daily Living, such as bathing, dressing, and toileting. They also help with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, including meal preparation, light housekeeping, and shopping.
What are four types of caregivers?
Common types include unpaid family caregivers, paid family caregivers funded through Medicaid waivers, agency-employed direct care workers, and medical professionals like home health aides or Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). Each type has different training and legal requirements in Pennsylvania.
What should a caregiver not do?
A non-medical caregiver should never perform skilled nursing tasks. They cannot administer injections, manage IVs, provide wound care, or conduct medical assessments. They also cannot act as the power of attorney or legal guardian for a client they serve through an agency.
New Century hires caregivers across Philadelphia and 4 counties. Weekly pay, $350 signing bonus, paid sick days, free health insurance plan available, 401(k). Call 215-974-0000.
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