Is a Role in Senior Caregiving Right for You?

Posted: 2/4/2022 3:18 PM by Interim HealthCare

Senior care has always been important, but it’s especially needed since the senior population is aging. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, older adults will outnumber children by 2034. In fact, the senior population is set to reach a staggering 77 million by 2034. Even now, there are more than 54 million senior citizens in the United States. As they age, they require more help with everyday tasks and healthcare issues, with many seniors now opting for in-home care over nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Senior caregiving is a great field to enter, but it comes with its own set of advantages and challenges like any other field. This article will discuss senior personal care, what senior caregiving entails, and how to determine whether it’s the right career choice for you.

What Does Senior Caregiving Entail?

As a senior caregiver, you’ll be in charge of an older adult’s health and wellbeing. Depending on their needs, you may need to fulfill various roles and help them with either medical needs, daily activities, or even provide companionship. The following are some of the many duties and responsibilities of senior caregivers.

Personal Care

Seniors often need help with daily activities as they get older. This is called personal care and may involve several services, including helping seniors get dressed, bathe, groom themselves, and more. Some seniors may suffer from memory problems because of diseases like dementia, and others may have physical constraints that make it painful for them to carry out daily activities. Experienced senior caregivers can help patients remain independent while still helping them with tasks they can no longer take care of by themselves.

Medication Reminders and Help

As individuals get older, they may need to take more supplements or medications for different health issues. Some seniors may take medications at different times and have to deal with complicated instructions. As a senior caregiver, you may have to remind them to take their medication or ensure they’re taking the right medication at the correct time.

Memory Care

Some senior care is specifically focused on memory issues. As seniors age, their memories decline. This can be especially difficult if they have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Memory care is a specific type of senior care that includes supervision while keeping memory issues in mind. Experienced Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers can make a huge difference in seniors’ lives.

Meal Preparation

Depending on the senior’s health and needs, you may need to prepare meals. Many seniors cannot prepare their own meals or resort to eating unhealthy foods since they do not have the ability or energy to prepare nutritious, healthy meals. Senior caregivers may need to prepare meals and ensure that the senior’s dietary needs are taken care of.

Companionship

Not all senior care revolves around helping with daily activities or managing health. Some seniors suffer from depression and loneliness and require companionship. Senior caregivers aren’t just there to assist with health issues or ADLs. Many also provide companionship and act as a senior’s emotional support system.

Why You Should Consider a Career in Senior Caregiving

There are many reasons why so many people consider careers in senior caregiving. The following are some reasons a role in senior caregiving could be right for you.

Job Security

With the senior population growing rapidly, there will be no shortage of seniors to look after. Whether it’s at-home care or caring for the elderly at nursing homes or other facilities, there will be plenty of seniors who will need help. Thus, senior caregiving and healthcare jobs aren’t going anywhere and will always have a high demand.

Variety and Growth

Many jobs are either stagnant or entail living the same day repeatedly. Senior caregiving is very different since you’ll never have the same day twice. You can grow and learn more every day and come across many new challenges. Additionally, since you’ll be working with various people and patients, you’ll encounter many different individuals instead of being stuck with the same faces every day.

Fulfillment and Job Satisfaction

Whether you’re an at-home caregiver or work at an elderly care home, looking after seniors can be a very fulfilling job. Despite it being challenging, senior caregiving comes with job satisfaction and gives meaning to many lives. While some careers result in making an overall difference to the world, senior caregivers directly affect the lives of individuals. Making a positive difference in others’ lives can be extremely rewarding.

Variety of Settings

Not everyone thrives in a professional working environment. Some prefer a home environment. If this sounds like you, at-home senior caregiving may be a great option to advance your career and thrive in a work setting that you feel more comfortable in. Since senior caregiving can be at home, in hospitals, assisted living facilities, or even adult daycares, there are many different settings you can choose between.

Future Career Opportunities

If you’re considering a career in nursing and want to become a home health aide or a CNA, starting out as a senior caregiver could be a great first step. The experience you gain working with the elderly is invaluable and could be an excellent stepping stone for your future career. Additionally, starting as a non-medical caregiver can help you determine whether you want to remain in that field or enter the medical field and become a more skilled caregiver like an RN.

Become a Senior Caregiver With Interim Healthcare

At Interim Healthcare, we’re passionate about providing the best care possible. As such, we’re always looking for experienced caregivers looking to make a difference in seniors’ lives. If you’re interested in nursing or caregiving, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and learn more about careers at Interim Healthcare. In addition to excellent compensation, we provide flexible scheduling so you can take on as much or as little as your needs allow you to. Reach out to us at (636) 717-9292 or contact us here for more information.