Having read a press report last week that older workers have been the biggest victims of staff cuts in the workplace, local businesswoman, Fran Sayer of Home Instead Senior Care in Cannock, has put out a plea for older workers in the area to consider taking up a job in the care sector.
Picking up the story, Fran said: “We currently employ 20 caregivers and I need to double this number right now to help provide our at-home care service in the area. When I read that we are experiencing the highest level of long-term unemployment among the over-50s that we have seen in a decade I thought to myself – ‘If there are any in this area I might be able to offer them a job’.
“These mature workers have the benefit of long experience and enhanced life skills, which is a great bonus for employers and of course, for users of the Home Instead service.”
Ironically the reason that Fran and the rest of her team are so busy is that the UK’s elderly population is growing at a rapid rate, indeed older age groups are growing at a much faster rate than the rest of the population and over the next 25 years the government predicts that the number of children will increase by 11%, working age adults by 32% whilst people over 65 will increase by 32%. The number of people aged 75 and over will increase by a staggering 76%.
Across the country Home Instead is already employing many people who fall in to the 50+ age bracket, amongst them a 70 year old gentleman in the south of the country and an 81 year old woman in Lincolnshire. Commenting, Fran said: “Because older people often want to give something back to the local community and work flexible hours they are attracted to caring for others.
“Don’t get me wrong though, we employ people from a wide age range – our youngest caregiver in Cannock is 19 and the eldest is 65. The most important thing is that they have a caring nature but we provide all the training (many of our staff work towards NVQs) so no prior experience is needed.
“The care sector is a real growth area at the moment, and that isn’t going to change. No business is recession proof but I’d say that ours is recession friendly and it would be great to think that we could offer a new career direction to people in the area.”
For more information on job opportunities with Home Instead Senior Care call the team on 01514 3572349 or visit www.homeinstead.co.uk. You can also find more information on working as a carer at www.carejobfinder.org.
Hats Off To Caregivers At Easter!
