Professional Caregiving at Any Age

Professional caregiving is an excellent career choice for individuals of any age. Whether you’re fresh out of college and seeking your first professional position or re-entering the workforce after years in a corporate job, consider these benefits of working as a professional caregiver at any age. 

Benefits of professional caregiving as a young adult

Professional caregiving makes a fantastic early career choice because it’ll teach you essential skills, and you can offer clients a unique perspective that they may not get from other people in their life. 

• You’ll bring a new perspective to clients.
  Unless your client has children or grandchildren around your age, chances are, they don’t get the opportunity to interact with younger adults. Working with you and learning about your life gives them a new perspective on anything from movies to watch, activities to try, and food to eat.
  
  
• You can help clients get out of their comfort zones.
  Younger caregivers are excellent at helping their clients get out of their comfort zones by introducing them to new things and encouraging them to explore new interests. Visa versa, your clients can introduce you to new things as they share their interests. 
  
  
• Caregiving is a great stepping stone to different care-related career opportunities.
  You don’t need years of schooling or medical training to start your career as a caregiver. If you work for a home care agency like Visiting Angels, you’ll receive the necessary training and mentorship before your first solo shift, making it a great job while you’re in college. The training and experience you’ll gain as a caregiver is an excellent stepping stone for care-related positions like working as a nurse or certified nursing assistant.
  
  
• You’ll gain lifelong skills.
  The skills you develop as a professional caregiver are lifelong skills you can apply to nearly any area of your life. You’ll learn how to communicate, manage time, adapt to challenging situations, and focus on details. You’ll also understand the importance of empathy, leadership, and supporting and caring for another human. 

Benefits of caregiving as an older adult 

Working as a professional caregiver is not only a career for young adults. There are many benefits to working as a professional caregiver later in life. 

• You’ll have an easier time empathizing and connecting with clients.
  Some clients prefer working with caregivers closer to their age because they have an easier time connecting with them. Older caregivers can empathize easier because they or someone close to them has gone through similar life changes. 
  
  
• You’ll gain insight into how to care for aging loved ones.
  As you grow older, you may notice those close to you, like parents and grandparents, need assistance. Working as a professional caregiver gives you the tools to help your loved ones transition into the later stages of their lives. 
  
  
• Caregiving can help you find a new sense of purpose.
  Sometimes as we age and transition out of careers we’ve spent decades developing, we lose a sense of who we are and our purpose in life. Caregiving is a rewarding job, and helping senior adults in your community is an excellent way to reconnect with your life’s purpose. 
  
  
• Working as a caregiver will keep you active.
  Many individuals will work as part-time caregivers after retiring from a corporate position to stay active and help them get out of the house. Much of caregiving is socializing with clients and joining them for activities like walks, errands, neighborhood festivities, and other outings where you’ll enjoy time in your community. 

If you’re ready to start your career as an at-home caregiver, the team at Visiting Angels would love to connect. Our Farmington office works with seniors and families in Farmington, Aztec, Bloomfield, Navajo, Dam, Flora Visita, and the surrounding New Mexico communities. If you want more information about career opportunities with Visiting Angels, apply online or call 505. 516.1150.