I don't know if I would want to be a certified nursing assistant (CNA). They are so underpaid for what they do. Down here they make a bit more than minimum wage. The only good thing I see about it, other than importance, is it is a fast-track way to ultimately become a nurse. Some people choose the CNA route now to ultimately become an RN. It helps them work their way through the program and gives valuable experience.
Would I become a CNA to take care of family. No, because you don't have to be certified to take care of family. You just have to do what needs to be done.
ScottMcCleery, depending on your previous employments, would you want to become a certified professional caregiver? If yes, then call up a local Caregiver agency to find out what courses are required. Once the courses are completed, then your Dad can call the agency and ask for you to be his Caregiver. The pay depends on your qualifications. Would your Dad be able to afford to pay?
In the mean time, if your Dad has the means, you could pay you to help out while you study to get certified. You would need to write up a contract between your Dad and you, the salary, the number of hours, what days you would work. You would be responsible for your own payroll taxes.
If your Dad has no funds, and he needs to be placed on Medicaid, you would need to check with your individual State to see if you could be his Caregiver and if yes, the State would pay you a minimum wage.
If you want to become his caregiver, you can just do it. However, do you really want to leave your job and create what might be a huge blank space in your career thus on your resume? Please look into local ALF's. As Pam Stegman said, the social aspect is important. My MIL is enjoying that aspect of her "new home" very much. Choose an ALF where you're confident your father will get the kind of heath care and attention to diet he needs.
Keep your job and get Dad to Assisted Living. They play better when they are with people their own age. The social aspect is more important than you think.
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Would I become a CNA to take care of family. No, because you don't have to be certified to take care of family. You just have to do what needs to be done.
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In the mean time, if your Dad has the means, you could pay you to help out while you study to get certified. You would need to write up a contract between your Dad and you, the salary, the number of hours, what days you would work. You would be responsible for your own payroll taxes.
If your Dad has no funds, and he needs to be placed on Medicaid, you would need to check with your individual State to see if you could be his Caregiver and if yes, the State would pay you a minimum wage.