The term carer is used to describe a wide range of people ranging from teachers to medical professionals who provide various types of help to young people, the elderly and others who have special needs or medical problems. Government agencies employ large numbers of people in carer jobs and many of these individuals provide in-home help to patients. Hospitals, medical companies and educational establishments are among the other types of companies that employ both skilled and unskilled individuals in various carer jobs.
Trained nurses and other trained and licensed medical practitioners are often employed in carer jobs in which they are responsible for assisting people who have recently undergone surgery or others who are in need of constant medical attention. Some of these professionals are employed in hospitals or care centers, working with a number of different patients on a daily basis. Many of these workers help people during physiotherapy or speech therapy sessions, while others replace bandages or change clothing and bed sheets for those who are unable to take care of themselves. Trained medical professionals may also check the blood pressure of patients and will liaise with physicians about treatment and care plans for their patients.
Some trained medical professionals provide in-home help to elderly people and those who have recently been discharged from hospital. These individuals perform the same kind of duties as their counterparts who work with inpatients except that interactions with outpatients are usually less frequent. Aside from trained medics and nurses, some non-skilled individuals are also employed in care jobs; some are paid to do household chores and to sit with those who need help with simple day-to-day activities. Non-skilled carers may be trained to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other first aid techniques but they must refer medical issues to qualified medical professionals.
Children with learning disabilities often work with carers in schools or at home. Typically, these professionals are trained psychologists or behavioral specialists who attempt to help their patients to overcome their issues and to integrate into the school population. Some carers also work with children who have physical and mental disabilities and in some instances, these professionals are employed in carer jobs at group homes where disabled children can receive round-the-clock care. Additionally, some work in similar facilities that provide homes for adults including the physically handicapped and the elderly.
Many carers are full-time employees of government agencies or medical firms and these individuals normally receive a flat salary regardless of their work volume. Other people working in this field are self-employed. These individuals negotiate contracts with individuals and their compensation levels depend on their workload and hourly rates.
