Did you know that there are around 349 million people worldwide that are identified to be care-dependent? According to the World Health Organization, about 29 percent of this number is composed of individuals aged 60 and above. This data alone suggests how caregivers are needed in our society.
That being said, you might want to consider this career. Here’s why:
- Endless Opportunities
Unlike most professions, caregiving is actually in-demand for the years to come. It’s a career that even the smartest technologies of today cannot replace. In a data report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), work opportunities for caregivers are expected to increase by 34% between 2019 and 2029. Moreover, taking up caregiving as a profession can get you opportunities to live and work abroad as the demand is high in the USA, Canada, wealthy countries of Europe, and Asian economies like Japan and Korea. With a job as a caregiver, you are given stability and peace of mind in your career life.
- Good Compensation
You don’t have to worry about your financial stability as caregiving jobs pay well. According to Business Day, the highest-paying country for caregivers, which is Germany., has their caregivers receive and average wage of $36,541. Some countries even offer benefits aside from the given salary, like the Netherlands, where caregivers also benefit from comprehensive support systems. In this industry, your efforts are well compensated for.
- Diverse Career Paths
If you feel that your career path doesn’t end at caregiving, fret not, as you also have opportunities with other healthcare-related careers, like going up the ladder as a nurse aide, healthcare assistant, and eventually going into nursing. As you transition to these different paths, you won’t be too overwhelmed as all of these jobs put a priority on human health. You would already have knowledge and competencies in healthcare and you wouldn’t have to start from scratch.
- Accessible and Affordable Training
Here in the Philippines, training for caregivers is accessible and affordable. The Technical Education And Skills Development Authority, or TESDA, is a government body in the country that provides programs and training in various fields which can be accomplished in a short span of time. The caregiving program of TESDA is called CAREGIVING NC II and has a nominal training duration of 786 hours. Amazingly, TESDA programs are notably way more affordable compared to a 4-year college degree. Some programs are even occasionally offered for free, like their Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). This makes pursuing a caregiving career relatively easy in our country.
- Strong Bonds and Communities
Like for almost every profession or field in this world, there’s also a community built around caregiving. In this community, while you are guided with your professional growth, you are also nurtured with your growth as a human being. Being a caregiver, you’re exposed to different situations that pinch your heart, even ones that test your mental fortitude. Because of this, you eventually grow deeper empathy and patience. With the job allowing one to develop important human values, the community around it will ultimately reflect and be built around these values, thus creating a deeper and more emotional bond than most communities.
- Life-Changing Experience
When working as a caregiver, especially for the elderly, it’s expected that you won’t be stuck with the same patient forever. This type of experience builds profound human values that can be passed on to generations. A job like caregiving can humble you tenfold. Caregiving equips individuals with vast wisdom on human nature. You get exposed to certain situations and that’s where you learn to understand, empathize, and eventually create a bond with your patient, enabling you to be more efficient as you provide care. Caregiving is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that opens your eyes and changes your views on the world.
- Working with Purpose
Caregiving is one of the most fulfilling jobs out there. You get to sleep at night knowing you helped people. True enough, caregiving is not an easy job, but at the end of the day, you’ll find that it’s worth it. Each day, you wake up, knowing that you have a purpose in this world and that you have an important role in society. You’ll see that you’re not just doing a job, you’re not just getting paid, and you’re not just doing it for yourself, rather you’re doing it for the world, and you’re doing it to make a change.
In a society where many fear being replaced by artificial intelligence, caregiving remains a steadfast career, irreplaceable due to human connection. Beyond the paychecks and benefits, this career path is filled with heart and purpose. Caregiving is such a respected profession worldwide, and it’s because the job doesn’t come easy.The world needs more caregivers, and if you have the heart and passion for helping, you may want to consider venturing into the caregiving industry. Here at Rippling River Institute of Care-giving Inc. we offer the TVET program CAREGIVING (ELDERLY) NCII. As a TESDA-accredited institution, we guarantee that you will get the comprehensive education and training you need to gain such competencies. If you’re interested in enrolling in our program, reach out today.