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I want to volunteer in taking care of someone so I can gain experience in caregiving,I'm exposed to health safeties , first aid and fire safeties, have worked for 3 months as an Emr at a level 4 hospital, so I believe I will gain experience if I take care of someone up close

You might learn more working for a good agency that provides training .
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Reply to waytomisery
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I don't think that would work.
How can you be unqualified to give care but giving it as a volunteer? What does your salary or lack of it have to do with safe care of someone entrusted to you.
Better to spend your time on getting properly evaluated.
They are desperate for caregivers everywhere, and I would bet some agencies/care facilities would pay for your training with contract to work for them for some period of time (or repay the cost). I would check in local care centers. Good luck.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Hospice Centers are in need of volunteers. They may provide training & cover you, insurance-wise, as long as you are with them or doing your volunteer work.
Enrichment programs are popular now & Therapists may want assistance over quality programs in Art, Music, or Gardening, etc.. Those who are managing the residents , physically, are professionals, certified to do those tasks. Try not to over-step your bounds, but just enjoy what you have to offer-no matter if it's over playing games, managing Bingo, easy cooking classes, etc, & you'll learn what really matters over taking care of someone "up close". Be the bright spot in their lives!
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Reply to b8ted2sink
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Volunteer? There's plenty of home care providers that will pay you to work as many hours as you want, babysitting someone that shouldn't be left alone.
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Reply to jwellsy
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Falco, I was kinda where you were once, I just wanted to do some good, and learn a little about aging and stuff.

So I got a job at a companion care company. This was before , wages increased, and I tell you the little bit I got in wages , felt like I was volunteering.

I enjoyed it actually, probably because I wasn't there for the money, but wanted to make others life better, and I could pick and chose my clients.
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Reply to Anxietynacy
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You can volunteer to be a caregiver but you don't know if you'll actually learn some critical things that will make you a valuable asset to someone or some family. You need to learn about dementia and memory loss and how to calmly, productively, compassionately and safely engage with elders who have it. People with dementia are losing (or have already lost) their ability to work from reason and logic, they don't have empathy for you or any other loved ones, they can forget things from one minute to the next no matter how many times you remind them, they do unintentionally destructive and selfish things, they can be obstinate and uncontrollable. So, do not romanticize that being a kind-hearted volunteer will somehow be enough for a heroic pastime. Teepa Snow has many very instructive videos on YouTube and I learned a lot from watching them, and I recommend her and any other educational resource before you start volunteering.

I have hired numerous paid agency caregivers for an very elderly relative with advanced dementia (who was a fall risk). It made me furious when the agency sent a clueless, inexperienced person who thought caregiving wasn't any different than babysitting a toddler. There are liability issues with being a non-family caregiver -- regardless if you are getting paid or not. It is challenging to get a full-grown human to understand or cooperate when they medically and literally cannot.

It also made me furious as the newbie companion aid looked at their phone every other second.

Don't ever be that person.

That being said, I wish you all the best on your adventure.
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Reply to Geaton777
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The only thing I could find explaining what an EMR is, electronic digital records. The experience you give above would be helpful, but doesn't have anything to do with Caregiving. In Caregiving you are expected to bathe, change depends or help someone in the bathroom, make meals and do some light cleaning. You do laundry, change beds, clean up messes. I have 2 friends that quit being CNAs at 60 because of their backs. TV commercials romanticize caregiving. The aide with a happy Client, thats not how it is in the real world. Some of these clients can be pains. Some with Dementia can be really hard to care for and can hit. And the family, they can be worse than the client.

I would suggest to see if the hospital u work for has a training program for Nurses Aids. They run about 8 to 10 weeks. You will get some idea there with what its like to care for someone. I really don't think the experience you listed is enough to even allow you to volunteer without somekind of training or experience.

Community Colleges and Technical schools have CNA certification. Nursing facilities offer training free but u then work for them for a period of time. As a CNA you are certified by the Nursing board, in my State. There is a member that started out as a CNA, then became an LPN and then became an RN. I think these people make the best RNs. You nay find your calling but you need training before you can be paid to care for someone.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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