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July 14, 2022The Benefits of Working Within Aged Care
Working in aged care is such a rewarding area of health that is often overlooked, so let’s spotlight on the benefits of working within this sector.
Working in aged care means having the opportunity for a secure and rewarding career within the health industry. Imagine having the chance to interact with people every day who have 70+ years of life experience and wisdom to share? Having lived to their age means they have been through so many experiences, with countless interesting stories and advice they are happy to share. This may be how they met the love of their life, how they built their successful business, a story from the war or even memories from their childhood. So much of what we learn is done through listening, not speaking, hence why every shift working in aged care will be left having gained a little piece of new information that can only add to someone’s life.
There is such a high demand for aged care workers due to an ageing population which will only increase with time, with nearly 20% of the population expected to be over the age of 65 by 2031. According to research from CEDA, 17,000 more aged care workers are required in Australia each year to meet the basic standards of care, and by 2050, 1 million extra aged care workers will be required, quadrupling the current workforce.
One major benefit to working within aged care is the access to growing job opportunities. During 2019-2020, over 1 million people received aged care services in Australia. This indicates that the chance of finding a job in this area is high, also making it easier to find a job opportunity that suits your specific lifestyle. There are also various career pathways to pursue in aged care. Many people begin as aged care workers and may continue on to complete further studies to become team leaders, nurses, lifestyle managers, clinical educators, business managers etc. You get to decide how far you take it!
There is more flexibility around days and hours that are worked in aged care, compared to a typical hospital job, allowing for a healthier work-life balance. There is often also consistency, such as working all mornings or all afternoons, and even some Monday to Friday work, freeing up your weekends if they are important to you. Your qualifications will also enable you to work anywhere in Australia so it’s easy to move around and continue working.
Working in aged care, you are surrounded by people from all walks of life, creating such a rewarding working environment and the opportunity for never-ending learning experiences. Some elderly residents living in an aged care facility may not have family who visit often, making the relationship that the aged care worker establishes with them so rewarding, as well as beneficial to both their mental and physical health. Playing games, listening to music, going for a walk outside, arts and crafts, yoga or book club are all examples of activities that you may participate in at work to build these relationships with the residents whilst also providing them with company. Helping to improve people’s quality of life and spread happiness is a great feeling, knowing that you are making a difference. Although the job can be challenging at times, when patients overcome great obstacles, such as a stroke patient learning to talk again, it can be such a meaningful experience to be a part of. As an aged care worker, not only will you develop these meaningful relationships, there is such a great chance to learn from the elderly that you care for as they share their own knowledge, skills and perspectives with you each day. What better way to learn about life and the world than from those who have already had such experience living in it.
If you want a rewarding and fulfilling career in health that can adhere to a busy life schedule, aged care is a great option that won’t give the mindset of it’s ‘just a job’ every time you leave your shift for the day. Working in aged care doesn’t come without challenges, however it offers many great benefits other healthcare jobs may not, with not only the opportunity to positively influence people’s lives, but also ensuring your career is meaningful and allows for a great work-life balance.
Altaira are always on the look out for a range of staff across various roles. To check out a list of available roles and employment opportunities, visit: https://www.seek.com.au/Altaira-Services-jobs/in-Adelaide-SA-5000
To learn more about why you should choose a career in aged care with Altaira, visit: https://www.altaira.com.au/employment/join-altaira/
References
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/aged-care
https://www.tunstallhealthcare.com.au/blog/why-should-you-care-the-benefits-of-working-in-aged-care
https://www.maacg.com.au/information-centre/maintaining-health-and-wellbeing-in-an-aged-care-home
