Home Support, Housekeepers, and Related Workers
(NOC 4412)
in All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community ServicesHome support workers provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities and convalescent clients. Care is provided within the client's residence, in which the home support worker may also reside. They are employed by home care and support agencies, private households, or they may be self-employed. Housekeepers perform housekeeping and other home management duties in private households and other non-institutional, residential settings.
Job Outlook
Good
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Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “good”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is better than average when compared to other occupations in Nova Scotia. This is a fairly large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities occur fairly regularly. The number employed in this occupation is expected to grow significantly over the next few years, which will provide additional opportunities for employment. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Home Support, Housekeepers, and Related Workers may either be working full-time or part-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs are typically permanent positions.
The median employment income for 41% of Home Support, Housekeepers, and Related Workers who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $35,893. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
Hourly Pay
$12.50
Minimum$17.88
Median$20.19
MaximumAnnual Pay
$4,866
Minimum$21,303
Median$42,294
MaximumCompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Hourly Pay
$14.00
Minimum$26.88
Median$46.15
MaximumAnnual Pay
$5,616
Minimum$44,335
Median$92,599
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Home support workers provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities and convalescent clients. Care is provided within the client's residence, in which the home support worker may also reside. They are employed by home care and support agencies, private households, or they may be self-employed. Housekeepers perform housekeeping and other home management duties in private households and other non-institutional, residential settings.
Job duties
Home support workers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Provide care and companionship for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, convalescence or family disruption.
- Administer bedside and personal care to clients such as aid in ambulation, bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing and undressing.
- Plan and prepare meals and special diets, and feed or assist in feeding clients.
- May perform routine health-related duties such as changing non-sterile dressings, assisting in the administration of medications and collecting specimens under the general direction of home care agency supervisor or nurse.
- May perform routine housekeeping duties such as laundry, washing dishes and making beds.
Housekeepers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Perform housekeeping and other home management duties under general direction of employer.
- Plan and prepare meals independently or with employer, and may serve meals.
- May care for children.
Sample job titles
- doula
- home health care worker
- home support worker
- home-care worker
- housekeeper
- live-in caregiver - persons with disabilities
- personal care aide - home care
- personal care attendant - home care
- respite worker - home support
- visiting homemaker
Skills
To work in this field, you should have good interpersonal skills and a desire to help others. Patience and the ability to handle stressful situations may be needed. You must be efficient, yet sensitive to the needs of clients.
Job requirements
- Some high school education is usually required.
- College or other courses in home support may be required.
- First aid certification may be required.
- Completion of a training program in care of the elderly, care of persons with disabilities, convalescent care or in a related field may be required.
Other considerations
Employment opportunities are often part-time or casual, with shift work required. People in these jobs may be required to work in various locations over the period of a day. Home management experience may be required. There is mobility among the jobs in this group.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
Northern
Cape Breton
Annapolis Valley
Southern
Compared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
Northern
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health Care and Social Assistance
Other Services
Public Administration
Retail Trade
Educational Services
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
65+
15-24
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
35-44
45-54
55-64
25-34
65+
Top levels of education
College certificate or diploma
$7,844 median annual incomeHigh school
$6,638 median annual incomeTrades certificate
$9,305 median annual incomeBachelor's degree
$10,258 median annual incomeLess than high school
$6,206 median annual incomeCompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Bachelor's degree
$43,533 median annual incomeCollege certificate or diploma
$28,183 median annual incomeMaster's degree
$35,978 median annual incomeHigh school
$25,801 median annual incomeDoctorate
$60,991 median annual incomeEducation & training
Adult high school/secondary diploma programs
This program is typically offered at the high school level.This instructional program class comprises any program that defines the prescribed requirements, specified by the appropriate jurisdiction, for the completion of and graduation from a secondary school program of academic subject matter offered for adult learners outside of the regular secondary school program. This does not include adult compensatory education programs resulting in completion of a high school equivalency certificate or diploma.
Institutions providing this program
Siège Social: 1695, Route 1
Pointe-de-l'Église, NS B0W 1M0
(902) 769-2114
50 Elliott Road
Lawrencetown, NS B0S 1M0
(902) 825-3491
PO Box 550, 1 Main Street
Springhill, NS B0M 1X0
(902) 597-3737
21 Woodlawn Road
Dartmouth, NS B2W 2R7
(902) 491-4900
372 Pleasant Street
Yarmouth, NS B5A 2L2
(902) 742-3501
236 Belcher Street
Kentville, NS B4N 0A6
(902) 678-7341
75 High Street
Bridgewater, NS B4V 1V8
(902) 543-4608
5685 Leeds Street
Halifax, NS B3K 2T3
(902) 491-6722
PO Box 820, 39 Acadia Avenue
Stellarton, NS B0K 1S0
(902) 752-2002
PO Box 760, 1575 Lake Road
Shelburne, NS B0T 1W0
(902) 875-8640
226 Reeves Street
Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 2A2
(902) 625-2380
PO Box 1042, 1240 Grand Lake Road
Sydney, NS B1P 6J7
(902) 563-2450
36 Arthur Street
Truro, NS B2N 1X5
(902) 893-5385
Health aide
This program is typically offered at the trades/college level.This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to provide routine care and assistance to patients under the direct supervision of other health care professionals, and/or to perform routine maintenance and general assistance in health care facilities and laboratories.
Home health aide/home attendant
This program is typically offered at the trades/college level.This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to provide routine care and support services for homebound disabled, recovering, or elderly people. These programs include courses in basic nutrition, home sanitation, infection control, first aid, taking vital signs, personal hygiene, interpersonal communication skills, supervised home management, emergency recognition and referral, geriatric care, and legal and ethical responsibilities.
Institutions providing this program
315 Jamieson Street PO Box 33 Whitney Pier
Sydney, NS B1N 3B1
(902) 564-2222
Human services - General
This program may be offered at the college, trades, or university level.This instructional program class comprises any program that focuses on the general study and provision of human and social services to individuals and communities and prepares individuals to work in public and private human services agencies and organizations. These programs include courses in the social sciences, psychology, principles of social service, human services policy, planning and evaluation, social services law and administration, and applications to particular issues, services, localities, and populations.
Institutions providing this program
PO Box 5300 1250 Grand Lake Road
Sydney, NS B1P 6L2
(888) 959-9995
PO Box 550, 1 Main Street
Springhill, NS B0M 1X0
(902) 597-3737
372 Pleasant Street
Yarmouth, NS B5A 2L2
(902) 742-3501
236 Belcher Street
Kentville, NS B4N 0A6
(902) 678-7341
PO Box 820, 39 Acadia Avenue
Stellarton, NS B0K 1S0
(902) 752-2002
226 Reeves Street
Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 2A2
(902) 625-2380
PO Box 1042, 1240 Grand Lake Road
Sydney, NS B1P 6J7
(902) 563-2450
36 Arthur Street
Truro, NS B2N 1X5
(902) 893-5385
80 Mawiomi Place
Dartmouth, NS B2Y 0A5
(902) 491-1100
Long term care administration/management
This program may be offered at the college, trades, or university level.This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to apply managerial principles to the administration of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult day care, home health services, and other long term care settings and agencies serving the elderly and disabled. These programs include courses in social and clinical aspects of aging, health care delivery systems, nursing home administration, assisted living administration, aging policy and government programs, ethics, business management, financial management, human resource management, marketing, and applicable laws and regulations.
Institutions providing this program
PO Box 5000
Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5
(902) 867-2219
Employment requirements & contacts
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