WorkingCouples.com Bridges the Caregiver Gap, Connecting Employers in Senior Care Industry With Qualified, Professional Applicants
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- At WorkingCouples.com (http://workingcouples.com/), senior and long-term care positions are a major share of all active job postings. The site has become a reliable resource for both employers needing to fill such positions and couples in search of this kind of work. In addition to filling senior care positions, many employers on WorkingCouples.com seek help caring for physically or developmentally challenged.
"Finding the right people to care for a disabled or elderly relative or manage a residential care facility can be a challenge," remarked Lee Ashworth, co-founder of WorkingCouples.com. "Our job board can help individuals, families and agencies meet that challenge, while ensuring high-quality, dependable applicants for every position posted."
Among the elderly, functional and cognitive limitations are common, thus the need for often round-the-clock caregiving. One third of people 65 and older report struggling with some degree of functional limitation; the ratio climbs to two thirds once people reach 85. Likewise, two thirds of those who reach retirement age will require assistance with day-to-day tasks at some point in their lives.
Caregiving is a vital but sometimes thankless occupation, and the demand for caregiving is at an all-time high. Improving healthcare and longer lifespans mean that demand will keep climbing for decades to come. In 1950, only 8% of the population was 65 or older. By 2050, one in five people will be elderly. Already, people 85 or older represent one of the fastest-growing population groups.
Family and friends make up a significant portion of all caregivers, especially in elder care situations. That portion will inevitably dwindle as the demographic shifts described above take hold. According to the AARP, the ratio of potential caregivers for every person 80 or older stands at 7 to 1 today; by 2030, that ratio will be 4 to 1 and could fall as low as 3 to 1.
Caregiving is by nature a physical, demanding occupation, which makes working as part of a team advantageous. Professional caregiving sometimes requires some skilled nursing credentials, particularly in the case of individuals who need help with hygiene, eating and bathing. In other instances, caregiving may simply mean being available to assist with small tasks, chores and the like. Many families want their elderly loved ones to remain independent but not be utterly alone.
The types of caregiving jobs posted on WorkingCouples.com are numerous, as it's one of the more popular and active categories. Experience is often a plus for these kinds of jobs; patience and compassion are equally necessary traits in an accomplished, effective caregiver. Ultimately, the philosophy of senior care is to help people function optimally and with dignity.
Lately, there has been a growing movement to allow elderly citizens to "age in place" whenever possible. The vast majority of caregiving environments are therefore private homes. Meanwhile, nursing homes have made great strides toward becoming more residential and less institutional in nature. In either case, the need for people willing and able to work with elderly and disabled individuals is on the rise, with no sign of slowing for decades to come.
As the only job search site of its kind, WorkingCouples.com fills a need that the higher-profile job sites – Career Builder, Monster – do not even address. Unregistered users can browse the job postings at no cost before making the commitment of a paid subscription. Once subscribed and registered, users can then see all of an employer's contact information. WorkingCouples.com recommends adding a couples' resume and at least one photo to one's profile as a way of personalizing a profile and forging better connections with prospective employers.
About WorkingCouples.com
WorkingCouples.com is a subscription-based job posting board for couples. As the largest single source of jobs for two on the web, the site is experiencing tremendous growth. Couples and employers are encouraged to follow WorkingCouples.com on Twitter and like the site on Facebook.
Contact:
Lee Ashworth
Email
SOURCE WorkingCouples.com
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