The demand for home health and personal care aides in the US continues to grow year after year due to the aging population.
It is projected to grow by 21% by 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. Over the upcoming decade, there are expected to be over 700,000 job openings for caregivers each year, many of them resulting from workers retiring or changing to different occupations.
In other words, there has never been a better time to choose a career in caregiving. But there is no reason to beat around the bush - caregiving can be a particularly demanding job, and some people may feel discouraged from even attempting to embark on this career path. However, the benefits of this profession far outweigh its drawbacks.
In this article, we will discuss some of the reasons why you should choose a career in caregiving and how to get started on your new career path.
Caregiving Does Not Require Extensive Education or Advanced Degree
You may expect that a career in caregiving requires a medical or other healthcare degree. Still, the truth is that caregiver positions usually only require a high school diploma or equivalent (and some positions may not even require that). However, depending on the state and type of care, some positions may require specific training or certifications. The most essential qualities for a caregiver are a willingness to learn, adaptability, and a genuine desire to help people live their best lives.
A great place to start is to complete online training courses like those offered by Cornerstone Healthcare Training. Cornerstone’s courses are 100% online so you can complete them at your own convenience, whenever and however you prefer.
Since 2010, Cornerstone training has been chosen by over 30,000 caregivers and other healthcare professionals. It is approved by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and includes 20 different learning plans, depending on your previous level of training. There are also training options in both English and Spanish.
Cornerstone also has numerous specialty training programs in topics such as mental health, dementia, HIV/AIDS, and the list is constantly growing.
There Is No Previous Experience Necessary
Another great thing about starting your career in caregiving is that you do not need any previous experience to embark on this path. Far more important than previous experience is your empathy, compassion, patience, and desire to improve someone else’s quality of life.
And guess what? If you have ever cared for a loved one - whether a family member, a friend, or an elderly neighbor - and helped them perform some daily tasks (for example, grocery shopping or mowing the lawn), then you already have some caregiving experience. The only major difference is that when you work as a caregiver, you provide similar assistance, except in a more organized, thorough, and formal way.
Caregiving Offers Flexibility in Work-Life Balance
A career in caregiving allows you something many other careers decidedly do not - a higher level of flexibility in your work-life balance. Not only do you have flexibility in choosing your area of specialization, but you may also have flexibility in choosing your work schedule so that you can be on the job for as much or as little as you desire.
Remember that caregiving schedules vary widely based on the client’s needs and the employer’s structure. While some clients require 24/7 care divided into shifts, others may only need a few hours of support daily. If you’re working through an agency or employer, you may be assigned shifts that fit the client’s care plan, which could impact how flexible your schedule is.
However, many caregiving roles offer options for different shifts—such as split shifts, night shifts, or shorter shifts—giving you a chance to find a role that aligns with your lifestyle and obligations.
You can also shape your future career path in the field. As caregiving demand continues to grow in the years to come, you may decide to move into other areas of care. Perhaps you are interested in training others to provide the highest quality caregiving service? Or managing your team? A career in caregiving offers you an incredible number of possibilities.
Caregiving Helps Improve Your Own Health
According to a study conducted by Boston University’s School of Public Health, intense caregiving may also help to protect one’s own health. Though there is no doubt that caregiving can be quite stressful at times, constant physical activity and mental focus required for the job may actually help caregivers be in better health than non-caregivers.
Lisa Fredman, a professor of epidemiology at Boston University and the lead author of the study mentioned above, explains that performing caregiving tasks may result in psychological gratification, as well as greater physical and cognitive activity.
This 11-year study discovered something surprising: caregivers who provided a lot of care, or "high-intensity caregivers," had a 50% lower chance of dying over the study period compared to those who provided little to no care. Researchers believe this could be because being an active caregiver keeps people both physically and mentally engaged. For instance, helping someone regularly with their daily needs might involve moving around more, lifting things, and staying alert, which can all be beneficial for the caregiver's health.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Caregivers who spend a lot of time with those they care for often feel a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction, knowing they’re making a difference in someone’s life.
This feeling of being useful and connected to another person can boost mental well-being, which in turn can positively impact overall health. While caregiving can be demanding, the study suggests that these close connections and the sense of purpose might have some powerful health benefits.
Caregiving May Help You Find Your Purpose
To be a caregiver is to be of service, so it’s no surprise that this work brings feelings of purpose and fulfillment in life for many caregivers. If you feel passionate about helping people and want to make a difference in someone’s everyday life, you may find caregiving an exceptionally rewarding career.
If your client receives care in their own home, you may be the only person they see on a daily basis, and just your presence can make their day. You don’t only get to make a positive impact in your client’s life, but also in the lives of their family members who will be grateful for the care and support you provide to their loved ones.
Caregiving is one of the most fulfilling careers and it is open to everyone, regardless of their education or previous experience. Beyond offering you flexibility, a chance to improve your own health and find your own purpose, caregiving also helps you build long-term relationships and provides an opportunity to gain valuable life skills that you may find useful in your everyday life.
If you have qualities such as empathy, compassion, patience, and emotional intelligence, and want to start on a career path in which there are endless possibilities, then caregiving is the perfect career for you.
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