Work From Home > Other Work From Home Opportunities > Become a Caregiver
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Email to a FriendBecome a Caregiver
Care-giving services. Caregiving has become the second-fastest growing occupation, focused on non-medical care: companionship, errands, accompanying to doctor’s appointments, preparing meals, especially when a family member isn’t available to do this stuff.
Pay ranges from $8 to $15 an hour. Some opportunities are available as an employee with benefits and others are for independent contractors. Check with various companies in your area to determine their needs and your availability.
Among the resources to pursue for this type of work:
You can also search locally in your area for "senior companions" and post your availability on Craigslist and other sites. You'll be able to earn slightly more per hour by finding a direct employer on your own.
Pet sitters. Maybe you don’t want to care for people, but you’d love to tend to their pets. Fetch! Pet Care , a nationwide provider of pet sitting and dog-walking services, says the company plans to add 2,400 sitters to its roster by the end of the year. Company CEO Paul Mann says, “Sitters typically earn 50% of the retail price that we charge our clients. For example, if they board a dog in their home overnight they will get half of the $55 per night fee. Two dogs boarded overnight for one week would produce $385 in added income. Sitters choose which assignments they wish to take based on their availability and comfort level with an assignment. Sitters who wish to take on a lot of assignments can easily generate $1,000 to $2,000 or more per month in income. The demand for sitters who can board pets in their home is extremely high so we find that seniors can really increase their income and have lots of assignments through this avenue. They can also do private walks, daycare or visit cats and other small pets.”
In additon to checking on these sites, you can also promote your availability yourself through flyers or business cards and even on Craigslist. You'll hike your rates if you cut out the middleman, but it also means you'll have to hustle to secure and maintain your own client database.
You must use caution when visiting these sites. Even though they contain a lot of legitimate information, they also lead to links to stuff that's not legit. Be cautious about the sites and the ads you see and NEVER respond to check-cashing, wire transfer or Western Union related offers.