Is caring for the elderly the future of employment? The role of home care workers and aged care providers is set to expand greatly in the coming decades as a shift in demographics results in an ageing population. As the post-war “baby-boomer” generation and beyond enjoy increasing life expectancy and millennials and Gen Z have fewer children, we will see a huge number of elderly people needing care at home and in nursing homes as they age.
If you’re someone who likes to help and support others and would like to earn a salary and professional satisfaction from doing this as your day job, then a job caring for the elderly might be right for you. These roles don’t necessarily require academic qualifications, but a driver’s licence, police check, first aid and other basic practical skills can set you up well for a role in the sector. Here are some pointers on the nature of the sector and work involved.
Types of caregiving jobs
Some aged care providers have a degree of nurse training and a role in monitoring their clients’ health and wellbeing. Other care workers are primarily involved in personal care, helping seniors eat, bathe, get dressed and get around. If you prefer the social side of caring for seniors, then companion care, where your primary focus is staving off loneliness and offering social contact to isolated elderly people, offers another way to brighten the lives of older members of our society in need of care. Memory care is another former of caring for elderly people that helps them to preserve their sense of self and awareness amid memory loss.
Hospitals and nursing homes are popular employers of care workers, supporting elderly people who are unable to live independently in their own homes any longer and in need of 24/7 support within a wider organisation. If you prefer the hustle and bustle of a busy workplace and lots of personal contact, this might be your preferred workplace. Other aged care providers prefer to provide at-home care, visiting seniors in their homes and performing tasks that are crucial to facilitating their independence in daily life. This allows you the rare opportunity to build strong and lasting bonds with the people you’re supporting.
As you gain experience, you might find yourself in supervisory roles, gaining new skills, or even retraining as a nurse or physical therapist to continue your progression within aged care.
A day in the life: everyday caregiving
Part of the role of a carer is helping an elderly person who isn’t as mobile as they once were to maintain a routine so they can continue to live a rich and independent life. This involves every aspect of the daily routine: from helping them get out of bed and perform their morning bathing routine to preparing meals and taking them out of the house to attend medical appointments and social activities aimed at staving off the scourge of loneliness.
If you work with multiple clients, you might hop in the car and do the rounds of multiple clients each morning and afternoon, making sure they get their meals and medication whenever they need. If you work closely with one client, you might spend most of the day with them, monitoring and facilitating their everyday life.
Challenges and problem solving
People with dementia and other cognitive conditions can be resistant to receiving care and unsettled by your presence in their home or surroundings, particularly at first. These situations require patience, warmth and empathy from the aged care provider, as well as flexibility and adaptability to the client’s specific and changing needs. You should be the kind of person who enjoys rolling with the punches and responding quickly to changing dynamics.
Caring for an elderly person also takes a village: when you’re caring for one elderly person, especially at home, you might find you’re not only supporting them, but also their entire family. From an emotionally overwhelmed partner or spouse to adult children who are struggling, there’s a whole range of dynamics that may need observing and managing in order to provide your client with the level of care you believe they need. Openly communicating expectations is key here. If you approach these situations with tact, sensitivity and adaptability, you should be able to handle them with aplomb—and you might find yourself part of a small community caring for a beloved elderly relative, rather than working alone.
Whatever form of care role you choose, if you are dedicated to helping people, have a flexible and empathetic approach, and possess the ability to react quickly to challenging and changing situations, a job caring for the elderly could be the perfect fit for you.