Caregiver vs. CNA: Which Is Best for Your Family’s Needs?

When caring for a loved one or pursuing a healthcare career, it’s important to understand the differences between the roles of a caregiver and certified nursing assistants. While both roles may support individuals who need assistance completing daily living routines, they differ significantly in training, responsibilities, and work settings.

Read along as we break down the key differences between a caregiver and a CNA. Then, you can make the best choice for your family.

What Does a Caregiver Do?

A caregiver is a paid or unpaid person who helps another individual with their daily-living activities to help them live more independent lives. The goal is to help keep the loved one or the patient out of a facility.

According to the RAND Foundation, more than 40 percent of Americans (which is about 105.6 million people) are caregivers to adults who are wounded, ill, or injured.

Caregivers usually assist elderly individuals or those with disabilities, chronic illnesses, injuries, or mental health conditions.Their typical duties can include:

• Managing medication.
• Talking to doctors or nurses on another person’s behalf.
• Helping with bathing, grooming, or dressing activities.
• Light housekeeping chores and assisting with daily living activities (ADL).
• Preparing meals.
• Completing informal and formal documents related to health for a care recipient who cannot complete these items alone.

Most of their responsibilities focus more on companionship and personal care. They may have some medical assistance tasks, but those are basic duties, not as advanced as the responsibilities a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) may have.

What Type of Caregiver Do You Need?

There are also different types of caregiving categories. These include:

Private-duty caregiver

These caregivers are hired through an agency, and they are usually screened, bonded, and insured. Agency caregivers may also be able to offer a substitute caregiver if the primary caregiver is unavailable to work.

Independent Caregiver

Independent caregivers can work directly with a family without an agency. Not having an agency can lower the cost, but families will probably have more responsibility in hiring a caregiver that fits the loved one’s needs and in managing the caregiver.

Family Caregiver

Many times, many caregivers are family members, such as a child or a spouse. In addition, this care is usually done voluntarily. These caregivers usually have to balance their caregiving duties with other responsibilities such as children, work, or school.

Respite Caregiver

Caregivers who provide respite care are usually providing temporary care to relieve family caregivers. Respite care offers short-term relief for primary caregivers who need time to rest, travel, or spend time with other families and friends.

Taking a break is important for a caregiver’s self care. Working all the time is not good for the caregiver or the loved one. All caregivers need to beware of caregiver burnout. These caregivers may be private-duty or independent. They can offer short-term relief, not long-term care.

Work environment

You’ll most likely find caregivers in in-home care settings, so they could offer one-on-one assistance to their patients. You may also find them in care facilities which offer long-term care, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Caregiver Qualifications

The requirement for caregivers varies by state, and there is no federal standard for the caregiver’s education or certification. Most state programs do not require a caregiver to have any kind of formal education besides a high school diploma.

Some states may require caregivers to have 40 hours of training. Others may need up to 120 hours of training. Some states have no formal programs. In addition, some agencies may require other standards for their employees too.

A caregiver’s training focuses more on providing support for the care recipient through duties such as small household chores, cooking, and personal care (like the responsibilities mentioned above). They may also learn about simple medical topics such as basic first aid and CPR.

In many instances, potential employees will have to undergo an interview and a background check.

What Does a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Do?

A CNA is a healthcare professional who provides medical support to patients under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs).

CNAs perform medical tasks. Their specialized training focuses on performing clinical functions and medical care, such as:

• Medical assistance: Documenting and monitoring a patient’s blood pressure, pulse, and temperature; taking their vital signs.
• Nursing care: Providing some basic nursing support under the supervision of a RN, LPN, and doctors.
• Medical equipment knowledge: Assisting with medical devices and equipment.
• Patient Care: CNAs do provide some patient help by aiding with mobility, feeding, and exercises.

As an example, a CNA has the qualifications to help provide physical therapy exercises to care recipients. They can monitor an individual’s blood pressure and they can ensure a patient takes his or her medication on time.

CNA Qualifications

A CNA receives specialized, intensive training. They must complete a state-approved education program and pass a competency exam to earn a certification. Their training includes classroom instruction and clinical practice.

The training covers clinical essentials such as:

• Taking vital signs.
• Assisting with medical equipment.
• Providing nursing care.

CNA must submit documents for a background check, and employers usually interview them first before hiring them on as employees.

Work Environment

CNAs are usually employed in more clinical environments such as hospitals, clinics, hospices, or other medical facilities. In some instances, they may also work in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. CNAs are an important part of a patient’s medical team.

Comparing and Contrasting a Caregiver vs. CNA

To help you better understand the differences, here’s a brief summary of the similarities and the differences between the two.

The Roles

Caregivers concentrate on offering emotional support for the patients. They have conversations with the patients and participate in activities with them. They assist patients with getting dressed and mobility, especially those with the limited ability to walk or move.

Caregivers can perform some basic medical tasks. However, their training does not include reviewing advanced medical procedures.

A CNA has the training for the advanced medical procedures. They complete medical tasks, such as helping with medical procedures, taking vital signs, and working with medical equipment. Some view a CNA as being a nurse’s aid.

Supervision

A CNA works under the supervision of another individual with medical training, such as RNs, LPNs, and doctors. A caregiver may be supervised by a RN. However, in some cases, there is a position dedicated to managing the caregivers, and that caregiver may not have the same medical training as those who supervise CNAs.

Training

Some states require training for caregivers. Others do not. Also, a caregiver does not need to pass a state competency exam.

Most states demand that caregivers and CNAs enroll in a state-training program. A caregiver’s training program focuses more on providing support for the patient. Meanwhile, a CNA program focuses more on providing support for the medical staff.

Both positions will require a background check and an interview before getting hired.

Work Environment

Caregivers usually work in the home, so they can have more one-on-one time with the patients. Caregivers primarily aim to help patients maintain independence and avoid institutional care. They often work in-home settings, offering personalized one-on-one assistance.

In other instances, caregivers may work in long-term facilities or home care services (such as nursing homes or assisted-living facilities) as well. There, they can still have one-on-one time with the patient.

CNAs work more in medical settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and hospices. Sometimes, they also work in long-term facilities. Rarely, do you find them working in the house.

At All American Home Care, we have rigorous standards to ensure your loved one is receiving the quality care he or she needs.

Caregiver vs. CNA: Tough Choices Take Time

Don’t be too hasty. Be patient and make sure you understand the similarities and differences, so you can make an informed decision. Your loved one’s care and comfort depends on your choice.

Choosing between a caregiver and a CNA ultimately depends on the specific needs of the patient and the level of care required. If your loved one primarily needs help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, companionship, or meal preparation, a caregiver may be the right fit, especially for home-based, non-medical support.

However, if your loved one requires medical assistance such as monitoring vital signs, administering care under the supervision of a nurse, or support in a clinical setting, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is likely the better choice.

Understanding the differences in training, responsibilities, and work environments helps ensure you make the most informed decision.

Do you still need help trying to decide? Call All American Home Care for more information.