How to Become a Care Giver for the Mentally Disabled
Those who work with the mentally disabled are sometimes referred to as a home health aid because they provide care and treatment in the home of the patient. Working in this field is highly stressful because of the nature of the job, but the job prospects are good. If you want to become a mentally disabled care giver, you need to ensure that you're ready for the job.
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Instructions
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Decide if this is the right job for you and if you can handle the stress. You may find that clients throw things at you, act violent and say rude things. You'll also work long hours and may find yourself working with a variety of clients at one time throughout the day.
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Take courses designed in working with the mentally disabled. These classes are offered at four-year colleges as well as community colleges and night schools. You don't necessarily need a degree in nursing or a medical field, but you do need some knowledge.
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Volunteer at programs, centers and other places that work with the mentally disabled. This gives you some hands on experience in the field and helps you better understand the people you'll work with in the future. Try contacting local organizations and asking if you can volunteer at upcoming events, or just help when you have free time.
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Contact home health aid organizations in your area and inquire about potential jobs, but make sure you let the company know that you want to work with the mentally disabled. These companies often work with the elderly, the homebound and others, but also have mentally disabled patients on their list that need help.
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Attend the training session with the company before you begin working in the field. Most companies require you to attend at least one training session and others require multiple sessions. You'll learn what to do when working with clients and how to handle different situations you might experience.
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Tips & Warnings
Checkout job boards and bulletin boards at your local college, especially those around the psychology department. Often times parents and caregivers will post jobs on those boards and it's a good way to gain some experience.
Consider taking courses in health care at the high school level, or through a technical school. Not only will you learn more about working in the field, but you can often get help when it comes to finding a job after school.
