Working in the Care Industry

Winter Morning Sun

(Shot on 35mm Black and White Film)

Autumn Sway

(Shot on 35mm Colour Film)

I have returned to work after my visit to London. I am able to fully appreciate the break because when I am at work for three days and three nights, I can go nowhere. For me as a paid Carer, this is just manageable, but I do often think about the families who have to care for their husbands, wives, siblings, children etc, and who unlike me, can not "go home" after three nights.

Three nights is enough for me. I do need to know that I can leave my colleague to care for the well being of our client for the next three days and nights. It is not that caring for our client is difficult, although there are times of course when there are challenges. It is the long days and nights that affect me mostly. I get frustratingly bored even though I always take various things to do to fill my time. You have to be alert to your client's needs at all times, day and night. You stay in what is effectively a strangers home, you have to respect not only your client, but also their families, their belongings, ensure that everything is done to their wishes, keep everything clean and tidy as well as caring for your client. When I go home, for the first few hours I just flop and feel tremendously grateful that I am in my home.

I'm not sure how much longer I can continue with 24 hour care. I don't feel that I am suited to it long term and I am searching and applying for other jobs, as well as trying to motivate myself to build my own business on line developing my own personal interests.

Caring is a very low paid job that has an awful lot of responsibility attached to it. It can be very rewarding and at the same time quite soul destroying. It is not in any sense an easy option.