If you are looking for a prestigious career, consider becoming a senior caregiver. Senior caregiving is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding professions because it allows you to make a true difference in the seniors’ lives while giving their loved ones peace of mind.
By being a senior caregiver, you enjoy endless job opportunities because elder care providers are always in high demand. Elder care providers also have flexible working hours, and you can study as you work. Read on for a complete guide on how to become a senior caregiver.
1. Establish Whether Being a Senior Caregiver is Right for You
The first step to becoming an elder care provider is evaluating whether or not caring for seniors suits you. While it is gratifying, senior caregiving involves highly-demanding tasks. They include running errands, preparing meals, administering medication, helping with personal care, among other ADLs (activities of daily living), and providing care to elderly patients with conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Ensure you can comfortably handle these tasks before applying for senior caregiving positions. Senior caregiving may be appropriate for you if you are an excellent communicator and have skills and abilities like patience, empathy, compassion, and the capacity to put other people’s needs before your own.
Consider volunteering in a caregiving facility to determine whether or not becoming an elder care provider is a good fit.
2. Get Relevant Education and Training
Most states require gerontologists to obtain a license and complete a training program before practicing. Make sure you have the necessary academic qualifications. Some employers may also prefer workers with first aid skills and a health and social care diploma.
Be sure to research education and training requirements in your state before applying for elder care provider jobs. If you are already an active nurse practitioner, social worker, or public health professional, consider enrolling in one of these AGACNP certificate programs to help you efficiently transition into older adult caregiving.
Gerontology is a broad field with three main branches: administrative, applied, and academic gerontology. Be sure to pick a career path beforehand to establish the relevant school and education requirements.
- Administrative gerontologists work in elderly programs. They plan, monitor, and enact programs like nursing homes, care centers, and hospitals.
- Academic gerontologists research medical issues, such as diseases that affect seniors. They also focus on social questions such as how the aging population impacts society or how to prevent depression when aging. An academic gerontologist can also teach at the university level.
- Applied gerontologists work and interact directly with older adults daily. This is the most relevant field if you hope to become a senior caregiver. However, you may see other terms used rather than gerontology specifically.
3. Gain Experience
Gaining senior caregiving experience is critical to providing the best care to elderly patients. You could volunteer in organizations that offer senior support, such as care homes, hospitals, charities, and hospices, to mention a few.
You could also consider seeking part-time roles, which allows you to learn as you earn. You will also get first-hand experience in senior caregiving, setting you up for full-time positions. Some part-time roles may even naturally lead into full-time positions.
4. Learn the Relevant Skills
Getting senior care training and education is not enough. You should further prepare relevant skills to provide the best care to your elderly patients. These skills include:
- Interpersonal skills: Senior caregiving entails working on a personal level with your elderly patients. Some of these patients have terminal illnesses or experience constant pain. For this reason, you must strive to be sensitive to their needs.
- Eye for detail: Most senior adults, especially those aging in place, have specific schedules and rules you must follow. Having an eye for detail ensures you abide by your patient’s desires and schedules.
- Time management: Elder care providers are schedule keepers. You must ensure your elderly patients get to their appointments on time, take medicine on schedule, and wake up on time, so you must possess excellent time management skills.
- Stamina: With over 19 million senior adults having mobility issues, you must have the stamina to lift your patients into their beds, cars, and bathtubs.
5. Join Senior Caregiver Support Groups
Join caregiver support groups or professional organizations so you can know and interact with other elder care providers. You could meet people in your community in the same position as you, exchange resources and tips, and learn from their experiences.
Joining senior caregivers’ support groups also allows you to network and find career opportunities. Be sure to also join online communities like LinkedIn and Facebook to connect more with others in your industry.
6. Find a senior caregiver role
Once you meet all the requirements and gain adequate experience, start pursuing senior caregiving roles. You could work on a contract basis as a freelancer or join agencies to help you find placements in retirement homes, shelters, or patient residencies. Be sure to also attend career fairs to connect with potential employers.
7. Join Area Agencies on Aging (AAA)
An excellent way to gain more information and resources on senior caregiving is by working with your local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). AAAs are public or private organizations designed to address an older person’s needs and concerns at regional or local levels.
Founded in 1974 by Congress, the Area Agencies on Aging strive to build home- and community-based services to promote older adults’ dignity and independence. AAAs support senior caregivers and family members by offering counseling, support groups, training, and education.
Below are the services provided by AAAs:
- Senior caregiving training and support
- Insurance counseling
- Information on health and wellness
- Respite care resources
- Nutrition counseling services
- Emergency response systems information
- Assistance in enrollment
- Elder rights education
- Care options counseling
- Ombudsman services
- Supportive services, including information about case management, companion and homemaker services, legal services, and home modification referrals
- Care planning and eligibility for long-term care service assessment
Endnote
A career as a senior caregiver gives your life a sense of purpose, not to mention the financial perks of the occupation. Evaluate whether being a senior caregiver is right for you, get the relevant training and education, gain experience, prepare relevant skills, join support groups, work with Area Agencies on Aging, and find a role to become a senior caregiver.
However, it is also important to plan and research before taking any further steps. After all, caregiving can be an intense role and is not a good fit for everyone.
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