Giving Back To Those That Came Before: Why Should You Become A Carer?

Being concerned with the welfare of others and striving to make their lives better is an incredibly admirable trait. Whether you’re looking after the elderly, disabled, or the young, knowing that you’re improving someone’s life, no matter in how small a way, can feel very rewarding. Sadly, as of 2019, there are well over 1.5 million older people that have an unmet need for care.

It’s estimated by Age UK that at this rate, by 2030, that number will rise to 2.1 million people. The need for carers is at an all-time high right now. So why should you consider a role such as this?

Meet New People

One of the most common responses we hear from expert carers is that the people they meet whilst working are fascinating. The stories that those who have lived such extensive and full lives have to tell are often enthralling. This can bring an understanding of elderly people that you didn’t know you lacked. Hearing tales of life as far back as a hundred years ago can be incredibly enlightening and enriching and gives your patient time to reflect on their life and share things that mean a lot to them. You’ll also be able to meet other carers in your community to build up a strong network of support and professional friendships.

Flexible Hours And Work Close To Home

As a carer you’re unlikely to be spending all day with your patients, and therefore you’ll see a level of flexibility that you might not expect from other roles. Being a carer can fit nicely into the lifestyle of someone with other personal commitments such as being a parent or studying. Of course, you must ensure that your flexibility works both ways and that you are available if you’re required to visit patients unexpectedly. Finding home carer jobs is by no means difficult if you have the ability and dedication. There is an abundance of elderly people that need help at home in Bath and here in Swindon for example. The homecare group Abney and Baker often has vacancies for flexible care assistant roles, including openings for weekend and evening staff. Having someone nearby that can help them if they need it is a great boost to confidence for the elderly. Feeling cut off and unable to ask for help can be both upsetting and frightening for anyone, regardless of age. You will provide the comfort of being there for someone when they need it.

Escape The Mundane Life

Taking care of people means that your days are rarely the same as each other. You’ll always be meeting new and interesting people with different needs and expectations. There will be plenty of challenges thrown your way, but this only served to make you both a better carer and person overall. Knowing that no two patients/clients will have the same requirements can be encouraging and can dispel concerns that the day will be boring or underwhelming.

Job Satisfaction

These points help to provide a high level of genuine job satisfaction for carers. Being there to help someone with their needs, whether they’re simple or complex, can make a massive difference to their lives. Supporting someone that is living with a condition that needs more in-depth attention provides you with both the knowledge that you’re making their quality of life better, and the experience to be better equipped to help others in the future. No matter what you’re doing, you’ll always be learning and gaining new abilities.

Provide Genuine Peace Of Mind To Families

It can be easy to forget about the other people that you’ll be supporting during your time as a carer. Of course, the patient is the most important person in most instances, but you’ll also be working with their families and giving them the peace of mind, they need to know that their family member is being taken care of. They will know that they can continue with their lives without the constant worry of needing to be there 24/7 for their loved one, in case any issues arise. Knowing that there will be a regular visit from a carer or even 24-hour care, there will be someone there to alert them of any problems. You’ll be having an impact on so many more people than you’d expect and that’s something that you can be eternally proud of.

Being a carer truly is one of the most rewarding jobs out there and is considered by many to be extremely selfless. If this is something you feel could be your calling, then don’t hesitate to take that first step. As mentioned before, carers are in high demand and finding people that are both qualified and dedicated to providing an amazing, selfless service such as this is invaluable to our society.