Senior care giver in the USA

You would like to change your surroundings and become a senior carer in the USA? In this article you will find out how much a carer from across the Atlantic makes and what conditions you must meet to work legally in the United States.

Why is it worth undertaking a job in the USA?

America is not just a great adventure, but also a chance to get to know a completely new lifestyle. Not without significance are also finances - from our experience, care for an elderly is truly valued here and you can earn quite good money (you will find out more below). At the same time, during work you can master your English (or American English), which is the best way to learn a foreign language. This is not your goal? No worries. In the case of seniors, a large facilitation is the fact that they are people of Polish origin. For that reason, it will be easier for you to make contact both with a senior, as well as his family. If you are looking for a job in the Polish communities, the best destination of your journey will be Chicago, New York, Denver or Detroit. Most of the Polonia lives in the northeast of the country in the states of New York, Illinois or Michigan.

How much does an elderly carer make in the USA?

Keep in mind that although the national minimum wage in the USA is $7.25 for an hour, this amount varies depending on the state. In the richest regions of the country, the minimum wage is much higher, e.g. in California it is $12. According to data from various services, basic care can be worth from a dozen to about 20 thousand dollars a year. For example, in the case of nurses with a recognized diploma, the pay increases significantly and can be between 30 and 50 thousand dollars a year, except that this rate applies rather in specialized nursing homes. All in all, it is worth negotiating the conditions due to your experience and education. 

How to work legally in the USA?

If you would like to be hired as an elderly carer in the USA, despite the introduction of visa-free travel with the United States, you still need a special work visa. In the case of care, it is an H-2B visa that can be sponsored by the family you will work with. You can find detailed information on this subject along with a description of the procedure in the text on employing people from Poland in the USA. Don't forget that formalities in this case are quite time-consuming and an overnight departure is not possible. It's best to be patient and handle your affairs calmly, as well as to be in constant contact with the family with whom you intend to take employment. 

Once you're in the United States, don't forget about your responsibilities and rights. In some states there is a special law regarding people hired in domestic care. For example, in New York, employees of this type cannot work longer than 40 hours per week, therefore they have the right to paid overtime. They are also entitled to 1 day off in a week (i.e. 24 hours without undertaking work). Interestingly, this law requires that the babysitter's remuneration is paid weekly, not monthly.  

Can a nurse work as a senior carer?

To work as a senior carer with an American family, experience is not always necessary, but for obvious reasons - even visa-related - you should have it. It may turn out that the very education of a nurse is not enough for the family to take up a job with them. However, if you want your diploma from Poland to be recognized in the United States (e.g. to attempt to obtain better earnings), you must be patient. Nostrification of a nurse's diploma should be started by ordering its translation. This is followed by sending the translation scans to CGFNS which is an organization that confirms the authenticity of your diploma. When everything is OK, you have a fairly serious exam ahead of you - the so-called NCLEX, which must be passed by anyone who wants to work as a nurse in the USA. A registered nurse's license will not only allow you to apply for a higher rate, but also opens the door to work in American hospitals.