Health Care Assistant ?

Spirogyra

Hi I'm wondering what the role of Health Care Assistant is like? By that I mean I'm in the second half of my 30's a lot of people are telling me not to do a course in this, as it's a physical job, which would not suit someone who is going to get older. I really feel I'd like to work in the caring field, if I was younger think I might have liked to have become a nurse, but this realisation only came to me so late. Does anyone here work in a hospital or care environment and know what it's like? how could I go about becoming involved? Off topic My Arts degree was a waste of time, qualified me to do nothing, and nothing great has come from it.

The Governor

Spirogyra wrote: »

Hi I'm wondering what the role of Health Care Assistant is like? By that I mean I'm in the second half of my 30's a lot of people are telling me not to do a course in this, as it's a physical job, which would not suit someone who is going to get older. I really feel I'd like to work in the caring field, if I was younger think I might have liked to have become a nurse, but this realisation only came to me so late. Does anyone here work in a hospital or care environment and know what it's like? how could I go about becoming involved? Off topic My Arts degree was a waste of time, qualified me to do nothing, and nothing great has come from it.

Rubbish, absolute rubbish. I'm currently training to be a HCA. There are so many avenues to this job, you don't have to be in an environment where you would have to lift people in and out of beds, etc.

I'd say easily its a 50/50 split between over and under 40, whether training or working I've met.

You can work as a home help for someone who might be stiff, so you'd be doing things like giving a quick tidy to the place, make sure they have what they need, bring them on days out, etc. Of course there will be cases where you might need to be psychical but you can simply inform your superior if you feel your not strong enough to life Mr. Murphy in and out of bed for example

Another thing, don't worry about the age, sure your not even meant to put your date of birth on CV's now cause its classed as ageist.

There's a big demand in this sector now, nursing homes are WAY too expensive so its more economical to pay someone to call in for a few hours a week. It's really growing and tbh I was amazed at how good the pay can be, not surprising tbh when they can't even get the numbers to meet the amount of patients they have in public and private arenas.

DoozerT6

I did it for a while some time ago. I won't lie, it's very hard physical work, especially in a hospital/care home environment, where the residents may be completely dependant on carers for EVERYTHING. Feeding, dressing, showering, toileting/changing pads or nappies, putting them into bed, taking them out of bed, dealing with dementia, incontinence, fully grown adults with limited or no mobility...it's hard going.

I think some people (not including you in this, OP) imagine that caring for an elderly person involves making them a cup of tea, patting them on the hand sitting down for a chat, and ensuring they have something in the fridge for dinner. It's not like that at all. It can, to all intents and purposes, be like working in a crèche at times - except the helpless individuals completely dependant on you are fully grown adults, strong, and capable of giving you a clout if dementia has taken hold of them. There is poo and urine involved. You will be wiping bottoms, noses, and mouths, you will (with help, hopefully) be lifting and turning people bigger than yourself in bed, while changing the sheets they have soiled as a result of their incontinence, if their pad has leaked or they had removed it, due to their confusion. You will be seeing them naked if you are bathing them (some people get a bit freaked out at the idea of seeing, let alone washing, someone else's genitals).

It can be incredibly frustrating dealing with people who have succumbed to dementia. They may act irrationally, aggressively, scream, cry, become confused and frightened, try to wander or escape from the ward or unit they are in. They may be unable to communicate verbally and speak words/sentences that make no sense whatsoever. You will also have to deal with the fact that some of the people you are caring for will die while you are on shift and you may have to help wash them and lay them out - not to mention managing your own emotions, that someone you helped care for and had maybe grown fond of, has passed away.

Of course, I am only talking from one viewpoint, of working with the elderly in a care home setting. If you are a HCA in a hospital, the tiring physical work will still apply but you may not have to deal with frail elderly patients all the time. And seriously, it's not all bad. Yes, it was extremely hard work, we never stopped going at full tilt when we were on shift, and I came home and literally fell onto the couch at the end of every shift with every muscle aching. There were days I never wanted to go back. But there were other days.....

Days when our residents who didn't have dementia, but just needed full-time care would have little chats with us while we carried out our cares, and we got to know them a little better. The bawdy sing-songs we would have with one lady who couldn't speak a coherent sentence due to her dementia but could remember the words to all the old-time songs, and would belt them out at tea-time. Chatting to a resident who had been in a Japanese POW camp during WW11. The families we got to know, who would come and visit their relatives and bring us chocolate. The pleasure their Mam/Dad/Granny got from their visits. The genuine sadness and camaraderie among the staff when a resident passed away (a member of staff would always go to the funeral).

And most of all (I'm going off on a tangent here, but indulge me! ) the sense that the residents, while frail and in need of care now, were once young, vibrant members of the community - business owners, farmers, soldiers, police officers, teachers, mothers, fathers, and then grandparents....they aren't just 'old people'. Some day we'll be that age, and we will need to be taken care of. I hope whoever takes care of me in my nursing home remembers that I'm a person, and not just a job.

Good luck in your choices

borabora

I have years of experience in this kind of role, with a variety of populations such as older adult, learning disability, acquired brain injury etc. I think everyone should do this kind of work at some point in their life! Massively massively rewarding, but yes it is emotionally and physically draining. As long as you're getting the right support and respect you'll be grand, regardless of age. Hard work keeps you young anyways! Wages were crap when I was doing it, but hopefully things have changed. Good luck OP

DoozerT6

borabora wrote: »

I think everyone should do this kind of work at some point in their life!

Definitely.

Taltos

Sorry OP but this is not a PI.
Suggest you search on google or possible in the Work & Jobs forum here or maybe Carers & Caring.
Read the charters of each as well as a sample of the threads to figure out where best to ask this question.

Thread closed.
Taltos