It takes a special kind of person to become a professional caregiver. Many start as caregivers to aging family members and they experience first-hand what a difference compassionate care can make in the life of a senior. However, caregiving is much more than a fulfilling vocation; those who decide to become certified caregivers find it is career that offers competitive pay, flexible scheduling, and an expanding job market. Most of all, those working in senior care often tell us that they make meaningful connections with elderly clients and their families. It truly is a job of which they can be proud.
For those interested in learning more about caring for elderly adults, Caregiverlist® presents The Home Caregiver Career Overview infographic. We’ve culled information from various reputable sources, internal and external, to show you just why senior caregiving is The Career That Keeps on Giving.
Baby boomers are aging. By the year 2030, approximately 20% of the American population will be 65 and over. The majority of seniors (our research estimates it at 90%!) want to age at home with the help of in-home caregivers. If you thought quality caregivers are high in demand now, just wait a few years—home healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries and is projected to grow by nearly 50% from 2012 to 2022.
Non-medical home caregivers provide home and health services, help with activities of daily living (ADLs), and sometimes most importantly, companionship.
Senior home care agencies lament that there aren’t enough quality caregivers to fill all available positions. Talk about job security! As we showed in our 2013 Senior Care Employment Index, there are nearly 11,000 senior care agencies in the United States and 1,000 new agencies opened in 2012 alone. In addition to benefits (such as medical and dental insurance and retirement plans) and flexible hours, home care agencies regularly pay their hourly caregivers significantly more than minimum wage.
Becoming a certified caregiver requires that you meet your state’s minimum training requirement and pass a criminal background check. Then you are on your way to a career that offers the rewards and personal satisfaction that few others can provide.
