Profession Highlight: Aged Care

Frontline workers vary within a range of different professions and industries. One industry that has always been crucial but has ramped up even more so throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been the aged care staff who work to take care of some of the most vulnerable members of our population.

It’s certainly not all tea-drinking and arts and crafts as there are many challenges within this role that make it a very rewarding career. Ever wondered what a career in aged care might look like? Read on!

What can I expect from a career in aged care?

There are so many varying perceptions out there as to what a career in aged care looks like. For some, they might envision drinking tea and sharing stories with the residents. For others, the career may seem daunting and even a bit gloomy. Whatever your view, there are so many rewarding and fulfilling aspects when it comes to a career in aged care. Aged care worker Tammy Peters* says “the choice to work in aged care was easy. I always had a soft spot for elderly people and wanted to make a difference in their last stages of life by providing care through a professional relationship as well as building a friendship with them.”

The job of an aged care worker is to provide support to the elderly by assisting with daily activities and personal tasks. The role can also vary from working at a residential care facility or in a client’s own home.

Working a shift in aged care could see you doing some or all the following tasks:

• Feeding, showering, dressing, and administering medications to residents
• Helping residents go about their daily routine
• Communicating with the residents and their families about care, health, and other important topics
• Tidying and cleaning, as well as sanitising certain areas
• Providing social support to the resident if they wish to go out to the shops or on other outings such as walks or going to a café
• Preparing meals and drinks for residents that meet all dietary requirements
• Monitoring and recording any health observations regarding residents and taking further action where necessary

Depending on what your role is within your workplace and the length of your shift on any given day, you may also be required to provide extra support or medical checks.

What are some of the challenges involved in aged care work?

Like any other profession, working in aged care comes with a unique set of challenges that workers will need to deal with. These challenges include (but aren’t limited to):

Difficult residents – Not all residents are going to be easy to work with. Depending on what type of facility you work in, you may be exposed to some residents who need a higher level of care, as well as residents suffering from Alzheimer’s. Working with these residents can take a toll on aged care workers due to the complex nature of their condition. Patience is a required trait when dealing with patients of this nature and an understanding of how the condition affects each resident individually. “I work with a lot of residents who suffer from dementia, ranging from high functioning to low functioning,” says Tammy. “As you could imagine, if someone started trying to shower you and attend to all other daily needs, it would make you extremely distressed and resistive - this is what it’s like for dementia patients. Because of this, it’s imperative to provide lots of reassurance and build up that level of trust.”

When it comes to difficult patients in general, Tammy advises that empathy is key. “Aged care facilities are the last chapter in people’s lives and most of the time it’s not been the individual’s decision to move out of a home with hundreds of memories and into a care facility surrounded by strangers in the same boat. Understandably, residents have good and bad days, but you just have to cop it on the chin and know it’s not directed at you personally.”

The physicality of the role – Being physically fit probably isn’t what you think of when you think of the aged care profession, but there is certainly an element of physicality required. Being on your feet all day, lifting residents in and out of bed, showering residents along with a whole lot of other activities can make the job quite exhausting. If you’re looking at a career in aged care, be prepared to be on your feet for most of your shift.

Emotional challenges – While forming strong bonds with residents is one of the most rewarding parts of the job, it can be one of the hardest parts when a resident gets ill or passes away. “It can be challenging watching the people you’ve worked with for years and built a friendship with start to deteriorate,” Tammy explains. “When a resident passes, it’s almost a bittersweet moment. They are no longer suffering or in pain, however, it’s so sad not seeing them every day at work and no longer having your inside jokes. I’ve worked in aged care for two and a half years and I still cry when some residents pass, however, knowing the impact I have made on the last period of their life is all worth it.”

Tips for new aged care workers

If you’re considering going into a career in aged care, there are so many things to consider. While there are certainly some challenges, there are a whole bunch of positives including:

• The ability to build relationships and help residents through difficult periods
• The chance to meet lots of new people from all walks of life
• The laughs, entertainment, and stories you’ll hear
• The knowledge that the job you’re doing is truly making a difference

We asked Tammy if she has any tips for people interested in a career in aged care. “Go for it!” she says. “Honestly, there is a lot of parts working in aged care – toileting, showering, trying to get things done on time – but being able to help people, build a connection, laugh and hear stories from people of all walks of life makes it so worth it.”

Working in aged care certainly has its pros and cons, and is no doubt a job that requires you to be on your feet all day, working through difficult environments. If you’re looking to start a career in aged care, check out our range at Biz Care for a uniform to last you through every shift.

*Name has been changed for privacy reasons