If you are looking for a job (or a caregiver), this company that hires older adults could be the answer.
It is unusual to find a business that is both hiring and helping older adults. Both aspects are particularly needed in these trying times. Seniors Helping Seniors® is a company that hires able older adults as at-home caregivers. With so many people out of work and/or sheltering in place due to the COVID-19 epidemic, it is a rare job opportunity that will likely persist in the changed economy.
"Seniors are one of the most high-risk demographics in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the mandatory quarantine guidelines can take a toll on their mental health and wellbeing," said Daniel Jan, Vice President of Operations for Seniors Helping Seniors®. "Plus, with nursing homes presenting a major risk if an outbreak occurs, more people are moving their senior loved ones into an in-home setting to minimize exposure and ensure safety."
Founders Rooted in Charity
The company was founded by a husband and wife team, Kiran and Philip Yocum. Kiran grew up in India. She admired the work Mother Theresa was doing and donated her allowance to The Sisters of Charity for many years before joining the Catholic nun in her work to help India’s poorest of the poor. She came to the U.S. in 1995, got married, and the two started Seniors Helping Seniors® a few years later.
"The senior community needs our help, now more than ever. We are very fortunate to be able to continue to provide our services through loving and compassionate care to seniors and offer job opportunities for those that have lost work due to the impact of this pandemic," says Kiran. But she stresses that the relationship between caregiver and career they strive to create is not just about chores, but one of love and compassion.
Company Needs Workers
Currently, the company is advertising for 1,500 older adults to join their ranks as caregivers. A flexible schedule is one of the benefits, and caregivers are matched according to needs, personality, and preferences. Part of the job is developing a warm, caring relationship with the person in need. Caregivers may assist by cleaning, cooking, running errands, gardening, mowing and more.
For more information go to the Seniors Helping Seniors® website or for more information about being a caregiver, check out this short video from Johns Hopkins Medicine.
While Seniors Helping Seniors® is unique in searching out older adults to act as caregivers for their clients, many other businesses serving older adults welcome people of any age to work for them in a caregiving capacity. To find opportunities near you, search for “caregiving jobs.”
Click below for the other articles in the May 2020 Senior Spirit
Sources:
Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors
