Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney - 132

Next generation

CARING FOR THE ELDERLY IS AN IMPORTANT JOB THAT REQUIRES
LISTENING SKILLS, PATIENCE AND HEAPS OF KINDNESS. DO YOU
HAVE THE SKILLS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO SOMEONE'S LIFE?
The National
Audit Office estimates
that by 2025 there will be
around three million paid jobs
in adult social care. Many care
homes also have gardens,
cafés and beauty salons,
so roles are varied

Choosing a career
where you work
with the elderly will
give you a sense of
satisfaction

nursing care. In some homes, more able
residents have greater independence and
take care of many of their own needs.
Care homes providing nursing care
(also known as nursing homes) provide
all of the above, with the addition of
medical care from a qualified nurse who
is on site 24 hours a day.

ooking after our
older generation is
a boom industry that
is set to continue
expanding, thanks
to an increasing
ageing population. The number of
people aged 65 and over is projected to
increase from 10.84 million in 2012
to 17.79 million by 2037. As part of this
growth, the over-85s are estimated to
more than double from 1.44 million in
2012 to 3.64 million by 2037.*
Caring is a skilled profession. The
best care workers are those who excel in
listening and engaging with older people
so they understand their needs better
and can provide tailored support. It's
1 3 2 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

not an easy job, but it is a rewarding one
- although unfortunately, many care
workers receive low levels of pay.
Care for older people is either at home,
working as an independent care provider,
or working in a care or nursing home.

The types of care provided
Care homes for older people can either
provide personal care or nursing care.
Care homes providing personal care (also
known as residential homes) provide
living accommodation, which includes
a room (usually en-suite), meals and help
with personal care, such as washing,
dressing, taking medication and going
to the toilet. Staff will give care during
normal short illnesses but do not provide

Some care homes offer specialist support
for those with specific health problems,
such as dementia, mental health issues
or physical disabilities. One care home
might provide a mix of different care
types - for example, there might be a
certain number of places for residents
requiring personal care, a certain
number for those requiring nursing care,
and others for those with dementia.
Care homes may be owned or run
by private (commercial) businesses, who
may own a few care homes; non-profit
organisations, such as charities or housing
associations, and local authorities, who
mostly run residential homes. Some local
authorities outsource care to non-profit
organisations. Only 10% of places are
provided directly by local authorities.

Words: Kia Hansen. Images: Getty Images. * Source: NHS Confederation

Different roles, different homes
Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney

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