Since I graduated at the end of the summer, I have been working in the activities department of an assisted-living facility called The Crossings at Columbia. There is a lot of diversity in what I do, but my job is basically to help older people have fun. I always knew I loved elderly people, but I came to realize that this field is actually a great place to work for other reasons too. Even though I am not naïve enough to think every AL work environment is as good ours, there are universal virtues.
Working in a care or helping profession means that most of your coworkers are caring. While that seems rather obvious, it is actually a huge deal. In many fields, a high percentage of employees are in it for the money or ladder climbing, or perhaps because the job has certain perks. Nothing is necessarily wrong with that. However, in care professions such as ministry, teaching, counseling, medicine or geriatrics, a large percentage of people are there because they care. Often they could make more money or the same money somewhere else, but want the warm fuzzy feeling of helping people.
What does that mean practically? It means that besides the warm, fuzzy feeling you get from helping people (which is a huge deal to some of us), you will work with a high concentration of caring women and a high concentration of generally altruistic people. Even those who go in with ordinary motives spend their time nurturing fragile people in a nurturing environment. We have all heard stories of egotistical, unscrupulous men and women who care about the bottom line more than people. That element of the workforce usually avoids helping professions. When I go into work at the assisted-living facility, I may be tired or have personal struggles weighing on me or have a lot to do, just like anybody else. Having coworkers and managers who are patient, encouraging and even motherly or grandmotherly is drastically different from wondering if someone will stab you in the back or if your boss will chew you out because of a minor mistake.
Another important factor in elder care is that the baby boomers are aging. This too is a really big deal. There are a lot of them. As they start to retire, a huge percentage of our population will be moving into retirement communities, independent-living and assisted-living facilities, or nursing homes. Alternatively, they may stay at home and require in-home care. A variety of jobs are available in these communities, including nurses, CNAs, physical therapists, kitchen staff and waitstaff, administrators, marketing teams, concierges, activities professionals and staff, various therapists and the list goes on. These jobs range from no education requirements all the way to master's-level requirements. In short, there is something for everybody, along with two words — job security. There are about to be a ton of geriatrics jobs for the next few decades at least.
Finally, I cannot in good conscience write this article without mentioning the benefits of working with older folks, and working with them right now. The WWII generation, also known as our nation’s greatest generation, is in their 90s now. For a few more years, if you befriend, volunteer or work with older folks, you can talk to men and women who served in WWII and who represent some of the greatest character, courage and selflessness that has existed on our soil. The sad truth is that they are only with us in body and mind for a few more years, and too many are gone already. Get to know them, and let them pass the torch to us. In a world that needs wisdom so desperately, it is free and it comes with warm hugs and laughter.
The WWII generation does not monopolize wisdom though, partial as I am to them. Younger aging people have seen and lived through so much more than we have. It is one of the constants of life that wisdom comes with age, not inevitably but probably. Yet there is much wider diversity among young people. We millennials have the capacity for wisdom if only we give a care to grow in it. I am reminded of proverbs, when lady wisdom and lady folly are calling out. Lady wisdom lives in every assisted-living facility, and she longs to share her wealth. We hear more than enough from lady folly; this is 2016 for goodness sake — she has more than a hill now; she has technology. Wouldn’t it be nice to go to work every day and serve lady wisdom? That’s a pretty significant job perk — King Solomon, the richest man on Earth, valued knowing her above his wealth.
All in all, elder care is a fantastic field to work in. The employees genuinely care about other humans, which makes for a recharging work environment. There are a wide variety of jobs available, more jobs opening all the time, and a steady market for the next several decades. Last but not least, you get to hang out with Captain America’s buddies and understand life a little better just by going to work. If you are looking for a job, a career path or a volunteer hobby, stop by your local elder care communities and see why this growing field is one of the best you could be in.
