The season for giving and receiving is fast approaching!  So, as part of our campaign to promote careers in care, we think it’s the perfect time to talk about the more personal gifts and rewards of care work.  Of course, working in care can be challenging at times – particularly at Christmas – but what we give to our practice in care can bring its own rewards to both client and care worker, all year round! 

First, here are some of the personal ‘gifts’ that compassionate and attentive care can offer to service users, beyond the practical support we often think of when we consider care work… 

Gifts of Compassionate Care

Gift of Encouragement 

People are more likely to respond positively to the advice given by those they trust and like, and personal assistants often act as a bridge between treatments, family wishes and those of the service user. Through the rapports they build, care staff can gently encourage important positive changes, like following treatments, eating well, or taking light exercise, to improve the wellbeing of those they support. 

Gift of Company 

A study by Age UK suggests that nearly half of adults (7.7 million) aged 55+ have experienced depression. When we feel down, our perceived circle of support diminishes too; we can feel that we have very few people to call on, worsening our sense of isolation. Providing a friendly ear to listen, or a little burst of banter during what is, for a care worker, likely a very busy shift, can lift a person’s spirits and brighten the rest of their day. 

Gift of Dignity 

Dignity, of course, is a right, not a gift – but the fear of losing it can be a huge barrier for many when it comes to receiving care. Ultimately, care staff – from Personal Assistants to Team Leaders – are there to support a person to live as independently as possible, with the dignity and respect that we all have a right to.  However, very often it’s the small things that care workers do through their own compassion that boosts service users’ morale and enables them to reconnect with their sense of place in the world. 

The Rewards of Giving Care

By taking the opportunity to focus on your own self-development and growth, you’re more likely to feel fulfilled in your personal life as well as your professional life. And as a care worker, there is much more to the role than salary and security! Here are some of the more unspoken gifts that care work can bring to those who put their heart into their profession …  

The Gift of Gratitude 

We often complain about personal situations that we feel are unfair or unjust – it’s human nature. Working in social care, however, we are more likely to gain a wider perspective and a sense of admiration for those who stay strong in difficult circumstances, helping us to live with greater gratitude, and deepening our compassion for others. 

The Gift of Learning 

We never stop learning!  And aside from the great training that care staff receive, the act of working with such disparate personalities, and with a myriad of different needs can really help you to become a more practical and switched-on human being!  As you find solutions to everyday problems, and take on many new skills, you’ll also find much of what you learn to be useful and transferable to your personal life. 

The Gift of Giving! 

When we give ‘above and beyond’ our duties in care, it can be transformational; for us, those we support – and for other staff who will emanate you! Psychologically, the greater our investment in something, the more value it has to us on a personal level. In other words, the more we give, the more we care.  And whilst there will be good days and hard days as a care worker, knowing that your kindness and compassion, as well as your time, have made a real difference to someone’s life, can help make it one of the most rewarding professions around!