It might surprise you to know that the role of caregiver was once considered to be reserved for women. However, many more men are employed in this field than ever before, and the numbers keep growing. An AARP survey from 1997 showed that just 27 percent of professional caregivers were male. In 2004, that number had climbed to 40 percent. Combine this with the fact that in-home care and assisted living are both becoming larger businesses, and you can see that there are a lot of opportunities for men as caregivers.
Some elderly people, especially men, may not quite have grasped that this stereotype of women as caregivers is coming to an end. However, men are equally capable when it comes to providing compassionate, loving care. Professional caregiving services have recognized this and are hiring men. Men that want a career in this field are recognizing it and applying for jobs. And because this is a field that has a huge and growing demand, they are quickly finding that these careers are quite rewarding.
If you have an elderly loved one that has needs beyond what you can comfortably handle, finding a caregiver may be a necessity. In-home care is a great way to keep your loved one in the home, all while still providing them with the best care possible. Because most people do not actually need the intensive type of care that nursing homes provide, these are not always the best places for your loved ones, especially if they are still highly functioning. But when there are needs that they cannot handle on their own, assistance is required. Even if you truly want to provide that care on your own, there are a number of things that can make this impossible. You have a career, you have responsibilities to other family members, and so on. Caring for an elderly parent is important, but it’s not something that the average person can do on their own. You can still be the primary caregiver, but having a professional that knows what they are doing at the home during days while you’re away can help to make sure that there is no danger of your loved one being left alone.
Furthermore, remember that senior care is not a field where men are not capable. There is no reason why a man cannot be a good caregiver, just as there’s no reason why a woman cannot be a good doctor. The latter stereotype vanished years ago, and the former is beginning to, as well. It’s just a matter of time before there are an equal number of men and women in the senior care industry, spread fairly evenly across all the areas of this sector.
Recent studies have found, though, that there are some differences between men and women when they are giving care in a nonprofessional setting. Men are less likely to admit to stress or depression because of their caregiving. Men do not help with tasks like bathing as often. Men also are more likely to provide a long distance type of care. This is not for paid caregivers, though, and it mostly applies to family caregivers.
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