As the population ages, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the personal and home care aide job category will more than double in the next ten years. If you are looking for job stability, becoming a senior caregiver could be the career for you.
While advances in medicine are enabling seniors to live longer, additional care services are often required. For instance, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease increases dramatically for those over age 65.
According to the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, about 40% of people aged 65 or older have age associated memory impairment (about 16 million people in the U.S.A.). Only about 1% of them will progress to dementia each year. Although patients with mild cognitive impairment are able to continue to live independently, they show objective memory impairments similar to those seen in people with very mild Alzheimer’s disease. And about 10% of people aged 65 years or older have mild cognitive impairment, and nearly 15% of them develop Alzheimer’s disease each year.
These are just the statistics for Alzheimer’s disease care needs. The likelihood for heart disease, stroke, cancer and Parkinson’s disease also increase as we age. Another interesting statistic: the number one risk for women to develop breast cancer is living a longer life – the older we are, the greater the risk.
The caregiver category is identified as professionals who help the elderly, disabled, ill and mentally disabled live in their own homes or in residential care facilities instead of in health facilities.
What type of jobs are available for senior caregivers? Nursing homes, assisted living communities, hospitals and senior home care agencies all hire certified nursing aides. Usually certification can be obtained within two months and sometimes scholarships or grants are available from community programs.
Caregiverlist’s Senior News reports nursing homes will continue to need Certified Nursing Aides and provides information about the nursing aide programs in California and Illinois.
Have you worked as a nursing aide in a nursing home, hospital or for a senior home care agency? We invite you to share with our site visitors which type of position you preferred.
