​5 Reasons Why Working in Home Healthcare is Meaningful

According to NPR, there are currently 54 million Americans age 65 and older–that number is expected to rise to 95 million by 2060. As baby boomers age, the demand for healthcare workers to take care of them will greatly increase. Home health and personal care aide job openings are projected to grow 33 percent from 2020 to 2030, with experts predicting an estimated 8.2 million job openings in home healthcare by 2028.

What job opportunities are available in home healthcare?

In addition to traditional nursing jobs, there are many opportunities for a rewarding career in home healthcare. Without any formal training, you can be a companion or caregiver which involves light housekeeping duties, running errands, and grocery shopping, as well as simply spending time with a patient in their home. Certified Home Health Aides often help patients with similar tasks, as well, however, they’re also qualified to perform personal care activities such as bathing and grooming. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are credentialed to help patients with certain medical and wound care needs, and they often work closely with the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN) that is assigned to care for the patient in their home.

Other career opportunities with home health include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. For patients that aren’t able to easily leave their home, a physical, occupational, or speech therapist, or a therapy assistant, will visit the patient’s home regularly, ensuring they receive the treatment needed to regain function and restore independence.

Most patients in need of home health care are unable to live in their own homes unassisted. Regardless of your duties or title, all home healthcare jobs fill an important and meaningful role for people who need it the most.

Check out these 5 reasons you should consider working in home healthcare.

1. The work you do as a home healthcare worker is extremely fulfilling.

In home healthcare, you are making a life-changing impact every single day. By helping someone remain in their own home, you give them back their power and independence. In turn, you gain a sense of personal fulfillment which is why job satisfaction in the home healthcare industry is consistently high.

2. You use your skills to make life manageable for homebound patients.

You can utilize your experience and knowledge to deliver complex care at home. Every day is bound to be different, so you get to use and perfect a wide variety of skills while making a life-changing impact on your patients.

3. You connect with your patients on a personal level.

Home healthcare workers fill the void for many patients who are not able to leave their homes or see family and friends because of their illness. That can be lonely. Week in and week out, socializing with patients can drastically improve their mood and overall quality of life. Plus, the impact of socialization and meaningful relationships has been proven to have a positive physical impact on patients and can promote healing.

4. A flexible work schedule (with assignments to fit your needs) and job security are

just a few of the benefits of working in home healthcare.

Working in home healthcare provides you benefits that are not always available in other professions. The flexibility these jobs allow is one of the biggest benefits. Also, there is always going to be a need for home healthcare workers, especially as the 65+ age demographic across the country begins to grow.

5. You are consistently growing and developing both personally and Professionally.

Many of the traits that serve you well in other careers can help you excel at home healthcare jobs, as well. If you excel with tasks that involve soft skills, such as communication skills, problem-solving skills, teamwork, professionalism, and empathy, there is likely a job for you in home healthcare. Many of these soft skills will provide a foundation for a rewarding career with advancement opportunities.

Working in home healthcare is unlike any other profession. From the role you play to the opportunities for advancement, working as a home healthcare professional is a rewarding and fulfilling career.

Ready for a change?

If you feel you were made to serve, help, support, care and connect with others, you bear the DNA of a home healthcare professional. Everything you need to be successful in this career is built in you. It’s who you are. You are made for this.

Click here to check out career opportunities with Interim HealthCare.