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 live. They work for 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 decline slightly over the next few years, which may affect the number of new opportunities available (yet overall job prospects are still considered good due to other factors). 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 Workers, Housekeepers, and Related Workers may either be working full-time or part-time hours.
The median employment income for 38% of Home Support Workers, 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
$12.55
Minimum$17.93
Median$21.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$4,866
Minimum$21,303
Median$42,294
MaximumCompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Hourly Pay
$14.74
Minimum$33.28
Median$46.76
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 live. They work for 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:
- Provide care and companionship for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, recovery, or family disruption.
- Administer bedside and personal care to clients like aid in bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing and undressing.
- Plan and prepare meals and special diets, and feed or help feed clients.
- May do routine health-related duties like changing non-sterile dressings, helping administering medications and collecting specimens under the general direction of home care agency supervisor or nurse.
- May perform routine housekeeping duties like laundry, washing dishes and making beds.
Housekeepers:
- 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
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
North Shore
Cape Breton
Annapolis Valley
Southern
Compared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health care and social assistance
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration
Retail trade
Educational services
What is the age of Employment?
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
65+
15-24
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
35-44
45-54
25-34
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
College certificate or diploma
$26,132 median annual incomeHigh school
$17,353 median annual incomeLess than high school
$14,733 median annual incomeTrades certificate
$30,261 median annual incomeBachelor's degree
$24,249 median annual incomeCompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Bachelor's degree
$45,929 median annual incomeCollege certificate or diploma
$35,398 median annual incomeMaster's degree
$71,043 median annual incomeHigh school
$29,055 median annual incomeDoctorate
$100,443 median annual incomeEducation & training
Adult high school/secondary diploma programs
This program is typically offered at the high school level.The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) administers, coordinates, and supports the development and delivery of adult education programs through learning partners in Nova Scotia. Our learning partners include the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations that offer tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED, empowering Nova Scotians to achieve their learning and employment goals.
Institutions providing this program
Siège Social: 1695, Route 1
Pointe-de-l'Église, NS B0W 1M0
(902) 769-2114
PO Box 220
Halifax, NS B3J 2M4
(866) 679-6722
Various, NS
Various, NS
Health aide
This program is typically offered at the trades/college level.This instructional program class includes 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 includes 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.
Human services - General
This program may be offered at the college, trades, or university level.This instructional program class includes 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 includes 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
No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile
Contacts
Additional resources
There are no additional resources for this occupation.