If you are the compassionate type with a kind heart you may find a greater calling in becoming a senior caregiver.
Technically referred to as ‘non-medical’ care giving, you can turn those feelings of wanting to assist others into doing just that in an in-home setting. In-home care has become the most viable option in recent years for a number of reasons. Depending on where you live one reason may be the rising costs associated with nursing home care.
If you live in a smaller community the reason may be a long waiting list for local nursing homes which may force the option of in-home care. The best part about becoming a senior caregiver is that you don’t require any specialized skills to do this. You do need to decide what services you are prepared to provide, though and I’ve made a simple list of the basic levels of care that you can consider.
There’s Personal Care which is simply providing assistance with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming and hygiene. Next is what is called Escort Service which involves just providing transportation to and from doctor’s appointments, social events, hair care appointments and similar scheduled activities.
Then there is Companion/Homemaker to provide such things as light housekeeping, meals, medication reminders, participation in hobbies and activities, reading, pet care and accompanying your client to various activities and events outside their home.
This is not a job that is suddenly going to fade away like a fad as studies conducted by the U.S. Labor Department confirm that the need for senior care giving is on the rise and will continue to increase for the next several years so there is an identified and growing demand for these services.
If you decide to go this route, you can get the word out in many ways from advertising online, in local newspapers and through flyer distribution to making contact with nursing homes and senior’s social clubs. It may also be a good idea to let your local medical center and doctor’s offices know you are around in case patients of theirs are exploring options with the seniors in their lives.
You can turn your compassion for fellow seniors into a rewarding experience by enriching their lives which will in turn bring special meaning to yours. It will also produce an income while you are providing a service that will be valued for much more than the monetary cost.
If you would like to learn more about our step-by-step senior home care startup guide, click here.