Caregivers Needed in Pinellas County

With baby boomers entering their golden years, there’s a high demand for caregivers. Just ask Home Instead Senior Care Pinellas Chapter owner Julie Krol.

She’s been in the senior care business for 10 years and says in the next five years it will be tough to meet the demands of the aging baby boomer population. The need for caregivers offers career opportunities in a struggling economy.

“By the end of the year, we see a need to hire 50 to 60 caregivers,” she said.

Ten years ago, Krol and her family were struggling to meet the needs of her grandmother, who suffered from dementia. The task of caring for her themselves grew too great, and the family sought help. Through the process, Krol found Home Instead, an agency that provides seniors with companion care and home care services. Since the agency was so helpful to her family and there wasn’t one in Pinellas County, she decided to launch her own.

Her grandmother was her first client.

“We were having a hard time piecing together friends and family to help care for her,” Krol said.

Krol experienced what many of her clients have: The stove was left on, or her grandmother would forget where she was and was unable to care for herself.  

Once she got help, Krol and her family were able to enjoy the time they had with her grandmother.

“It was such a relief. The laundry was done, the house was clean, there were groceries in the fridge,” she said.

“It gave us quality time to spend with her. … By taking the caregiving role away from the family, it enhances the relationship and benefits all,” she said.

Home Instead Senior Care Pinellas Chapter has locations in Largo, Clearwater and St. Petersburg. It recently opened a training center in Largo at 7250 Ulmerton Road, Suite E, where hired caregivers receive free training from a registered nurse.

The Largo training center will hold a grand opening and job fair on from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. Interested applicants can inquire about positions such as home health aide and homemaker companion.

Homemaker companions help seniors with their daily house chores, keep them company, take them to doctor appointments or pick up their groceries. They get paid $8 to $10 an hour.

Home health aides' work is more hands on. They bathe patients, transfer them from their wheelchairs or beds, and assist with incontinence and other health-related care. They are paid $9 to $12 an hour.

“Anyone can come in and make a sandwich, do the housekeeping. We want caregivers to make them smile,” Krol said.

Home Instead works as an agency that supplies caregivers to seniors. the business serves Tarpon Springs, Oldsmar, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Largo, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Clearwater and St. Petersburg.

Interested applicants can also sign up at the grand opening event for free CPR classes and the Alzheimer’s Association Walk in September.

Hired caregivers are given flexible hours, CPR classes, Alzheimer's and dementia training, and certification in domestic violence and HIV/AIDS care.

“Our best caregivers are the one who are naturally nurturing,” Krol said. “You are really making a difference in someone’s life.”

Job Fair 

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday 

Where: Home Instead, 7250 Ulmerton Road Suite E, Largo 

What: 50 to 60 positions available

For information, call the Home Instead Senior Care Pinellas Chapter at 727-799-1400.