Guest article by Linda Kirschbaum, Consultant, Laatu LTC Consulting.
There are many great reasons to start a career in long-term care. Here’s just a few of the reasons it may be right for you.
Helping Others
A career in long-term care is ideal for people who find purpose in helping others. There are a vast array of jobs that make it possible to explore what fits your own interests and needs while having a positive impact in people’s lives. If you want to go home at the end of your workday knowing you truly made a difference in someone’s life, long-term care may be just right for you. It is a wonderful place to launch a fulfilling career where you can “feel part of something, not just play a part in anything.” (Simon Sinek)
Appreciation
The reward of helping others is appreciation. The residents you support and the team and leadership you work with will often express their appreciation and provide affirmation of the value of the work you are doing on a daily basis.
Community
There is a real sense of community in a long-term care facility. If you ask staff what they like about the work they do, a typical response is, “I feel trusted by the people I care for and the people I work with. I feel connected—they are like my family.”
Interesting Work
Every day in a long-term care community is unique. The work is rarely boring because of the rich and dynamic relationships you build with residents and coworkers and the shifting day-to-day needs of the residents. Each resident has a lifetime of knowledge and stories to share, you’ll learn something new every day.
Career Growth
Employee-centered long-term care organizations will often provide on the job training, tuition assistance, mentorship, or internships for staff interested in advancing their career in nursing, administration, therapy, social services, and food service. It is important to ask a prospective long-term care employer what benefits they offer for staff who wish to advance their skills and formal education.
Flexibility
Long-term care organizations are committed to supporting diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. This includes offering flexible schedules through shift work, varied start times, and creative scheduling to accommodate your family and school commitments to help you advance your career.
Stability
There will always be aging adults who will need long-term care and assistance in their later years of life. In fact, the need for long-term care services is growing. A career in long-term care offers long-term work stability.
Expanding Opportunities
The population of older adults in the United States and Oregon is increasing along with the need for quality long-term care services. The demand for services will create more jobs and career advancement opportunities as the need for a skilled and experienced workforce expands.
Understanding Aging
Long-term care work will give you a better understanding of growing older and dispel stereotypes about aging. Older adults are no different than younger people. We are all human, regardless of age, values, emotions, or life experiences — older adults have just been doing it longer!
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