Inside Look: Working in Senior Care
Posted: 08.07.2015As a healthcare professional, you’ve already determined the field in which you want to work—but now is the time to determine which sector of healthcare is for you. Whether you’re new to the healthcare industry, or are considering moving from your current area of expertise into the senior care sector—the following traits are essential for success.
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Understanding the Value of Independence:
Common side effects of aging are declines in mobility and dexterity. This means many seniors will require a little extra help, but extra help doesn’t mean you must do everything for the seniors you work with. Instead, you need to possess both the patience and the insight to determine where your help is needed and when it’s best to empower the seniors you serve to maintain their independence.
Understanding the Desire for Quality of Life:
While the body may slow down, physical aging doesn’t always go hand-in-hand with cognitive decline. Many seniors have some mobility concerns, but still desire full and active lives. They want to participate in social activities, still require physical exercise, and need to emotionally connect with others. In other words, you need to be able to look beyond any physical limitations, to the person within.
Compassion in Times of Great Change:
Regardless of age, change can be a challenge. During our senior years, some changes that occur are quite significant. This includes changes to mobility, continence, memory, and overall health. Sometimes these changes are gradual, and sometimes they occur rapidly. As a senior care professional, you need the compassion to understand the challenges that come with great change—but also the enthusiasm to be a spark of light in your seniors’ day.
Working With Seniors:
While all sectors of healthcare are rewarding, seniors are our connection with generations past. Whether imparting wisdom or sharing stories and invaluable life lessons—you can learn so much from working with seniors, beyond your professional job duties.
Working with seniors comes with a great joy. If you possess the traits above, and are willing to further expand and develop each of these traits, then a career in senior care may be the perfect fit.
Published by: SeniorCare.Jobs Editorial Team
Author: Joanne Silatei
Date: 8/7/2015