Who thinks that a care assistant isn't a proper job?

Question

I'm 25 now and have been a care assistant for 6 years. When I was 19 I was working in a residential home. One of the cleaner's said that my job wasn't a proper job for a lad of my age, and that I should do something else. That I should get some prospects. She went on to say that I had nothing to offer any girl. Several years later I started working for care agencies. Over the years i've worked out that i've cared for 100s of vunerable people. People that are really just waiting to die. I feel that i've made a difference and feel very rewarded. I think it is the best job that anyone can do. More important than a corperate manager, or a computer programmer. I believe carers are percieved as being at he bottom of the job barrell. It's crap! I'll always remember what that snob said to me. What do you guys think?

Answer 1

I wish there were more people in the world like you. The wife you will attract will also be a caring loving nurturing person. Bless you...you are doing the right thing for the right reason

Answer 2

I want to marry you!! I don't usually even believe in marriage! I've just finished a social care degree so I certainly do not agree with the attitude that we should get real jobs. I don't think there is anything more real. There are so many issues, no two days are the same (from my experience.) There are so many theories, policies, etc etc to consider when you are carrying out your job that are so important because they have a real effect on a person/peoples lives. You really do not get more important/real than that.

The problem is you don't need qualifications to get into care work (stupid people assume that means anyone could do it). However there are people in the industry that give us all a bad name, people that just go about their job without ever considering the person they care for, or the reasons why certain approaches are used etc. You have to be a thoughtful, questioning type of person I believe to do care work. Also you can't have a weak stomach!

You improve peoples quality of life, and in some cases probably prevent death. Therefore your job is just as important as a police officer or a doctor. It is definately more important than say an office assistant (a job I have done), however this could be considered a real job as you work in an office. (DULL!)

I don't condem any job, because we as a society pretty much do need them all. I just cannot understand the discrepancy for pay and respect for people in social care!?!? In some cases we are doing the job that the family of the clients should be doing. At the moment I work in a nursery. It is lovely, it is private and costs quite a lot to send a child there, about £40 per day. So rich parents use it. I get paid £5 per hour! I look after precious children, and try my hardest to make sure they have an educational and enjoyable childhood for £5 per hour! Its a mixed up world.

I can't say that I've ever had a cleaner criticise my job before though! Snobby cleaners?!?! They should know better than anyone else, that important jobs aren't always carried out in a suit.

Answer 3

I think you are doing a fantastic job. Carers are among the most under valued people in society. I am sure you do a wonderful job of making people's lives a bit more bearable. I'm also sure that any girl would love to have a boyfriend who was so caring. And it's a bit much for a cleaner of all people to criticise your job prospects!!!

If you did feel like trying something different but related, you could always qualify as a Social Worker or a Counsellor.

Good on you for doing such a great and important job.

Answer 4

A care assistant is one of the most difficult jobs anyone could do, I admire you greatly for doing this job, the work can be very thankless & hard but I should think knowing you have helped someone stay in their own home or helped them stay independent would be very rewarding indeed.
The job is quite low paid & I think that is where the low status comes from, money is always seen as an important measuring stick as to employment worth and unfortunately this job isn't done for the money but because you are a caring person THAT is more important and to be honest sexier than a high wage

Answer 5

I worked as a care assistant a few years back and found it to be emotionally draining and extremely hard work. You are definately doing a proper job and you should feel proud of the difference you have made to all these peoples lives. Working within a caring profession is an extremely rewarding and worthwhile thing to do. You have plenty to offer girl and I'm sure when you do settle down and get married your wife will be proud of you. Ignore people that talk like that, you are doing a job that makes a difference.

Answer 6

It's difficult when someone like that tells you something from a myopic point of view.

I worked in a residential care home for about one month, I didn't like it nor the owners nor the tightrope they walked in their 'offering of a service.'

I remember seeing a TV programme where a Nun talked about her experience (she, an elderly lady, worked in the area of 'massage' of / for the elderly) and how her experiences of 'care' affected her - as in the results of how the clients were effected.

It was very moving ...as she explained that 'many of these elderly people had NOT been touched as a Human Being in so many, many years. They had been lifted in and out of bed, had been turned in bed and had been bed bathed etc, But as a body and not, 'as a human being.'

The job or the work you do is not IMPORTANT, what is IMPORTANT is the sense of yourself from within what you give to what you do.

From what I read, here, I ask that You don't stop. I might need you or someone like you one day (in the not too distant future).

I read somewhere the words which went something like this....

'It is only when we are touched, by another, that we can truly know the self.'

The 'touching' is not automatically in the physical sense, either. But it can be, it can be the sense of another who simply places a hand on your shoulder.

Don't stop.

Regards.
Sash.

Answer 7

Hi, i cant believe she has said it to you, a care assistant is one of the hardest jobs you can do and of course its a proper job not many will do what you do and im glad you are doing well. I dont know why you even paid attention to her, what was she a cleaner. She probabley was jelous she has cleaned all her life, when people are older than you the always try to get you to do what they think is best, when you know there talking a load of rubarb. Also when she said you had nothing to offer a girl, i think a girl would like to go out with a careing person like you, and anyway not all girls just go out with you because of your job. If you like your Job good for you, and at least your not misrable like most people are in there jobs.

Answer 8

I salute you sir. Anyone that cares for others, of their own volition, does an immensely valuable job.

Over the years, I've cared for and seen hundreds of elderly people die. I am satisfied, in my own mind, that what I did for them was as valuable to them as anything that the majority of others have done for them. As others have stated, you are often called upon to carry out tasks that you wouldn't normally be asked to do ... not demeaning. That's not a word that I'd choose to use. (Sorry whoever used that term. I'm not having a go at you.)

It sounds as though the cleaner's idea of a person's worth is measured by their income. Happily, that's not the value that many people would associate with you. You are a valuable member of society.

What I would say is, don't worry what some might see as being at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to jobs. You have my utmost respect ... and, I guess, that of many others that have already replied.

Consider yourself one of God/dess' angels.

Answer 9

Everybody should be able to choose what they wanna do with their own life. I think that being a care assistant could be a very hard job physically and mentally and not everybody is fit to do it, but I'm sure you have some rewards and you looks pretty happy so well done. I'm a little sick of that people that only care about little silly thinks, the world is huge, the choices endless and
plurality makes the world more interesting! ;-)

Answer 10

I'm a manager in a supported living home for people with mental health problems and learning disabilties - i was a support worker for 8 years and a care assistant for 4. It is the most undervalued profession imaginable and there are a lot of people who could never cope with it - take heart in the fact that you are making a difference in people's lives - don't ever let anyone de-value you. Good luck

Answer 11

What are they on about ?? my mum was a care assistant for 24 years it takes someone special in my eyes to do a job like that, ignore these people they are ignorant you have said it it is a very rewarding job it's people like you that we thank the lord we have. I work as a factory cleaner people may turn their noses up but like you i enjoy my job and i don't care you hold your head high.