About a year ago I decided to renew my Certified Nurse Assistant license. I had been caregiver for five of my grandchildren for several years, but they were now all in school, and my older daughter assured me there would be NO MORE babies for her. About the same time, my husband was 'let go' from his job with no notice. He quickly found another job, but it pays about $10,000 less a year. I would need to help out, and it only made sense that I would go back into healthcare, and it would surely provide job security.

As the oldest of seven children, I am a natural-born caregiver. I was a candy-striper when I was in high school. Most teenagers do not even know what that is now-a-days. :) I was a nurse aide in nursing homes during the seventies and early eighties, then I took a few years off to work in the secretarial field. Alas, the office politics became too stressful, so I decided to go back to healthcare; I gain much more satisfaction from caring for others. Right about that time, it became mandatory to go to school and become certified as a nurse aide. So, I did that and worked with Visiting Nurses until I got on with a local hospital.

I remarried and became a grandma, and decided to help save my daughter money on childcare expenses until, as I mentioned above, they no longer needed me for that. My daughter suggested that perhaps it was time for me to retire, but the Lord blessed my husband and I about 14 years ago when my younger daughter brought our grandson to us because she could not care for him. After three years, we adopted him. I do not regret doing that in the least. In fact, I have shared many times that I believe he and all of my grandchildren have helped to keep me living young.

So, back to healthcare I went. As I studied and scheduled to take my state boards for my CNA renewal, I worked for a non-medical home healthcare/companionship company. Then I went to work at a so-called assisted living community that did not hire enough help to cover the total care residents they were taking on just to fill the rooms. (Two assistants in a three-story building with 75 apartments, and many of them couples, is too much to expect.) We certainly tried our best by working eight hours straight most evenings with no breaks whatsoever. One resident shared with me that one of the QMAPS almost gave her the wrong medication. We were concerned that one of the confused residents would not be able to catch that. There again, one QMAP to pass all the meds in the building was just too much stress.

When I left there, I wrote a letter to the CEO of the company because the management at the apartments turned a deaf hear to my concerns during the time that I was there. I recently spoke to one of the girls who was still there and she said that 10 of them had been making calls to the corporate office because of poor management. They were ready to all walk out.

Through the years I have come across the occasional bad-attitude caregiver that has no business doing the job, and I have spoken up and seen things corrected. With healthcare the way it is today, and so many needing jobs, I fear it is in worse shape than ever. In talking with friends and family in the healthcare industry, I find these kinds of atrocities happening more than the average layman can even know.

Long story short, yes, I am starting my own home healthcare business after 50. :) I call it AAH Home Care With Heart. I am proud to say that I am licensed and bonded, and tomorrow I will take the American Heart Association class, BLS for Caregivers to re-certify my basic life support/CPR as well. I am also considering getting QMAP'd. I have passed fliers and business cards and am considering the best avenue for advertising. I did join Care.com and may spend the $20 for a month there since they screen people well, and it includes a background check.

I hope it is obvious that I am very excited, especially since I can do what I love. I am proud to give the best care possible to those who need it. And, although am in pretty good shape for my age, running up and down stairs in a three-story building, or even up and down the hallways is pretty hard work for an old gal like me. :)  

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xlorah It's wonderful that you are taking care of elders and continuing on in your life's work.I also working in a nursing home and still do, but not in direct care anymore. It is hard work and there are a lot of things that need changed. I"m glad you speak up no matter the cost. You are an angel for many people. Keep it up!

Jun 24, 2012, 8:18 PM EDT

MissAnnaBelle Thank you for your kind and encouraging words, xlorah.

Jun 28, 2012, 3:12 PM EDT

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