Senior Caregiver

With life expectancy in the united increasing to 79.1 years and 73.1 years for females and males respectively, it is expected that the country will register a 20 percent growth in people aged above 65 years in the next two decades. Consequently, the position of a senior caregiver will be in more demand as the society tries to grapple with the ever increasing needs of elderly and healthcare services. As the younger generation becomes more involved in income earning activities in order to fend for their families, it is quite apparent that the elderly will not receive the much needed care and attention from relatives as was the case in the past. This explains why assisted living facilities are on the increase.

The assisted living facilities are among the most likely places that a senior caregiver can work. Here, the elderly are supervised or assisted with activities surrounding their daily lives. In such a facility, senior caregivers also monitor the activities of the senior residents with an aim of ensuring that their health, well-being and overall safety are well taken care of. In assisted living facilities, senior caregivers are trained to allow the elderly some level of independent living and only supervise them when necessary. The philosophy behind such type of care provision is based on the need to promote dignity and independence among the elderly.

A senior caregiver working in a nursing home however faces a totally different kind of working environment. Elderly residents in nursing homes often need 24-hour supervision especially in relation to medical care provision. This means that senior caregivers working in nursing homes have to dedicate long hours providing care for the elderly. They must also be prepared to work in shifts to avoid fatigue.

If you have an intent on working as a senior caregiver, you must possess some interpersonal qualities such as good communication skills, ability to work long hours and patience. While the elderly can be quite a joy to work with, attending to their demands on a daily basis can be quite draining on ones emotions and energy. To ensure that you are always ready to handle the challenges presented by your work, taking breaks from work in order to relax is recommended. Also, make sure that you do not take your job as a senior caregiver too seriously to the extent of neglecting your own needs. Like any other job, working as a caregiver has hurdles that you must overcome in order to increase your efficiency at work. One of the ideal ways of coping is by joining a support group.

You should also remember that, besides the fact that most seniors loose their normal bodily functions with time, they need as much encouragement as you can possibly give them. Besides the physical needs, they also have emotional needs that ought to be addressed. As such, give them a listening ear as often as you can. This may be all they need to feel appreciated and wanted despite their age. Finally, do not dismiss the clich that wisdom comes with age. Working with the seniors may be the perfect resource for wisdom, which you may need in future.