Caregivers for us Seniors among fastest growing jobs list in US

Our population is aging at an increased pace. People are living longer, while the number of births are declining. Japan's population is already showing signs of "stress" as that nation is leading this trend. Who knows how this will play out, but it will probably create even more problems for society.

One of our granddaughters worked part time as a Senior caregiver, while she was studying to become a nurse. She found that job quite stressful, as many of the people she served were really in bad shape. Now, that she is a pediatric nurse in a nearby hospital, she is relieved to no longer having to interact with so many people in such circumstances.
 
Jules said:
Think back about your working life, would you have wanted to do this work? Underpaid. Overworked. Takes a special kind of person.
Click to expand...
I did do a variation of the work . I worked all my career with people with disabilities. Different titles and duties, but pretty much a caregiver. Not a lot different than working with older folks, as some of the people were pretty dependent on us for daily skills and filling basic needs. I liked the work as we were also teaching some independance.
In fact, when I was in a rehab center after my hip replacement, one of the aides asked "You are a caregiver, right". I asked how she knew. It was because I was always hesitant to ask for help, as I felt I was pitting them out, or they were too busy to help me.
 
I worked for a number of years as a CNA and found that work to be very rewarding. It was at a time when I wanted to be needed. The residents I cared for made a difference in my life. It was hard work but what made it harder was the fact that you have to care for more people than is possible. If you had less, then you could really do a good job and give them more time. Instead it was hurry, hurry, hurry. In almost every nursing home I worked in the biggest problem was the staff getting along, not the residents or their care.
 
With the population bubble of baby boomers hitting senior years this situation was utterly predictable. Too bad there isn't more robotic assistance for those who need physical help. For long-term assistance I'd personally rather have a robot than a human.

I've seen what some in-home and skilled nursing facility caregiving looks like, and it's not always pretty.

This is a difficult situation, for sure.
 
I find myself being my wife's caregiver since arthritis in her knees have made it impossible for her to walk without a walker. She's going to have knee replacement surgery soon.

And our dog is nearly blind, so I'm his caregiver, too.

“It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.”
~ Andy Rooney
 
Tish said:
Actually, it's from a music-sharing website called Napster, they no longer exist though. :)
Click to expand...

Napster has returned. They were cleared in that copyright lawsuit. Anyway I use Spotify because they have an unlimited free version and no ads.

202103010910-main.cropped_1614564620.jpg

I joined Spotify when EMI forbade YouTube from playing Pink Floyd videos in America. I used TunnelBear VPN to get around that. EMI eventually allowed YouTube to show their videos again but I still use free Spotify.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotify

https://open.spotify.com

https://www.youtube.com/c/Spotify/videos
 
FastTrax said:
Napster has returned. They were cleared in that copyright lawsuit. Anyway I use Spotify because they have an unlimited free version and no ads.

View attachment 170858

I joined Spotify when EMI forbade YouTube from playing Pink Floyd videos in America. I used TunnelBear VPN to get around that. EMI eventually allowed YouTube to show their videos again but I still use free Spotify.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotify

https://open.spotify.com

https://www.youtube.com/c/Spotify/videos
Click to expand...
I use Spotify as well. ( I hope they don't want their kitty back 😁 )
 
Our granddaughter got her CNA during her sophomore year of high school. She went to work between her sophomore and junior years at a local nursing home. Now graduated and enrolled in nursing school, she is still working long hours at the same facility.

She had a couple stop her in the hall one day last week. They had just admitted their father to the facility. They told her she was the only face they recognized from when their mother was in the facility. Told her they remembered her because of the excellent care she gave to their mother. It's the truth! Turnover is ridiculous! She, at 19, is one of the senior caregivers at the facility.

They are offering higher pay for new hires than she is making. She is strapped with training new hires while working her regular shifts. They will work her as many hours as she will give them, sometimes seeing 14 to 16 hour shifts when relieve does not show up. She has asked for more money, but they refuse saying they "can't afford it". They are assisting with her nursing school tuition so she wants to stay on until she completes nursing school.

A couple weeks ago, she received a call from her personal doctor's office. They asked her if she would think about going to work for them. She went in for an interview and they offered her more per hour than she is making at the nursing home. But... the tuition assistance is a big thing. So... she is now working two half days for the doctor's office, 40 to 45 hours/week for the nursing home and going to school. Sheesh!

There is not nearly enough people out there with solid work ethic... who will show up... show up on time... get peed and pooped on.... get cursed at and hit at by someone with no idea where they are or who they are... change adult diapers... help the aged shower... have 80 year old men try to drag her into the shower with them... clean up those who have passed away so they are prepared for the mortician crew. And, she really seems to enjoy what she is doing and really cares for her residents.

She does not know if she will stay with geriatrics when she gets her nursing certification. She knows that is where the future is and that is where the pay should be consistent with the demand. Pediatrics, etc. is more inviting. Who knows. We are an aging population and need trained and dedicated people in the field.
 
The government sponsored Senior Centers in our area advertise their purpose as helping seniors stay in their own homes. But many of the services the elderly need to maintain their homes, such as housekeeping and lawn service, are not provided by these Senior Centers. Seniors have to hire these services and pay for them out of their own pocket. The Senior Centers help social workers and employees stay in their homes by paying them a salary, but seniors seem to be on their own.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top