Looking for a new career?
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is now offering the Personal and Home Care Aide State Training (PHCAST) online! This free, virtual, and self-paced training is for anyone interested in becoming a community-based home care worker. It is Elder Services’ hope that this training will introduce people to the fulfilling career of home care and help meet the needs of the consumers we care for.
Home care aides are an integral part of the in-home care team. They provide services that support older adults and persons with disabilities to live and thrive in their homes and communities, as well as to make decisions about their care and lifestyle.
Elder Services contracts with several Home Health Care providers to serve its clients. Kim Cazeault, Contracts Manager, notes that there is a huge unmet demand for Home Care Aides across Cape Cod and the Islands: “All of our 13 providers are hiring Homemakers and Personal Care Aides right now, and will be for the foreseeable future.” As more people successfully age in their homes and community, there will be a growing market for these services.
PHCAST is a self-paced, video-based, 11-module online training. You can complete each module from your home computer or smartphone. You will learn about the roles and responsibilities of a home care aide, including skills like active listening, nutrition planning, housekeeping, working with consumers, recognizing abuse and neglect, handling emergency situations, and more.
Whether you are looking to change jobs or start a new career, the PHCAST training is the next step to your community-based, in-home health care career. All you need is a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet access and a valid email address. For more information, and to sign up today, visit www.mass.gov/PHCAST. The website is available in English, Spanish/Español and Haitian Creole/Kreyòl ayisyen.