For me, it is one friend, after another, searching for the right caregiver for their elderly Mom or Dad. It is one friend, after another, also looking for professional help when they are recovering from new illnesses as Baby Boomers and do not know where to turn. There is one friend, after another, looking for jobs where they can truly demonstrate their love, experience and concern for others. Consequently, there are many Baby Boomers, like myself, that just want to learn the best, available home care options for today and in the future.
The boomer market is booming and for the first time in history, the baby boomer generation will outnumber children in 2030 when 1 in 5 U.S. residents will be of retirement age, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Demand for workers is high across many industries but for the home care provider industry, the need for home health and personal care aides is an area where demand is expected to grow exponentially to care for these seniors – particularly due to the pandemic.
For job seekers who may have not considered in-home caregiving as a first, second or “encore” career option, Comfort Keepers, a leading provider of uplifting in-home care for seniors and adults has identified several types of individuals and backgrounds for whom pursuing a new career in in-home health and personal care can be a positive and rewarding next step:
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Retirees and soon-to-be-retirees – Individuals who are preparing to retire, or who have retired, may appreciate the flexibility the job offers while giving back to the community and staying connected
Healthcare – Although having a background in healthcare is not required for the job, those that do can appreciate the benefits of working in a home setting with known clients
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Retail, food service and childcare – The skills from these jobs allow for people to transfer their passion for helping people into a personally rewarding job
Domestic skills – For those who love cooking, cleaning and connecting with people, these skills can be parlayed into a flexible job with purpose and meaning. In fact, according to the caregiver survey, the top 3 unique skills or traits they bring to the role are 1) cooking skills, 2) passion/love for caregiving and 3) people skills/good conversationalists
I spoke with Nicole Long, Director of Human Resources, Comfort Keepers regarding a recent survey of nearly 1,000 caregivers:
What were some of the key findings on the survey?
In a recent survey of nearly 1,000 Comfort Keepers caregivers, respondents believe that the caregiver offers a flexible, rewarding and purposeful career opportunity. In fact, respondents reported being satisfied with the personal fulfillment gained in their job (90%) and the flexibility of being an in-home care provider (93%). Nearly 3 out of 4 respondents gave Comfort Keepers a rating of 8 or higher (on a 10 point scale) when asked if they would recommend working there to a friend.
What trends are you seeing in the caregiving industry?
There is an increased demand for a different type of caregiver – someone who can go beyond daily tasks and form actual relationships with clients to help them thrive and live more purposeful lives. Many of our clients love the company of a caregiver, even if it’s just to sit with them and watch their favorite TV shows, cook together, do an outdoor activity and more. Our caregivers like to empower their clients to help them maintain their independence so they can realize joy in the everyday moments.
What are some of the other tasks a caregiver would perform?
This depends on your skills, availability and the position that you desire. Some of our caregivers act only as companions for our clients. Some do light housekeeping, meal preparation and other household chores. Each client has a unique care plan that is tailored to his or her particular needs, so we ensure we provide a good match between a caregiver and the client. Overall, you don’t need to have a medical or nursing degree to be a caregiver - anyone with a compassionate heart can be a caregiver.
Where can people go to find more information
Visit comfortkeepers.com/careers/caregiver-positions and take a look at the different care services available in Chicago or across the country and apply for this rewarding career. It’s in such high demand right now and only expected to grow even more over the course of the next few years.
The 2022 Comfort Keepers Caregiver Survey measured perceptions of 978 current Comfort Keepers caregivers and was fielded from September-October 2021.
