Baby Boomers: Potential Caregivers for Elderly Seniors

To baby boomers seeking other employment

Are you a baby boomer who is currently looking for other employment? Maybe you left your previous job. Perhaps you did not want to leave, but you had no choice. You may be a baby boomer, who prefers to continue working, but with high unemployment rates everywhere, you are having a difficult time finding other employment.

Consider this option, as it may offer a valid solution to your employment problem. As a baby boomer, would you be interested in and able to assume the care of an elderly, senior citizen? With dramatic increases in the numbers of baby boomers, entering into their retirement years and the tremendous number of elderly, senior citizens in need of care, it would appear that there is the possibility that you, as a baby boomer, might be able to help fill one of the huge gaps, in the current health care system. At this time, there are simply not enough trained health caregivers on any level, including the younger age bracket, to meet the current needs and demands of our elderly senior citizens. Elderly senior citizens should never be left without proper care.

What does this suggest for baby boomers? In reality, there are hundreds of baby boomers like you, who need to have additional income after retirement from years of full time employment. This is reality. Many baby boomers need to find other work after retiring to supplement their incomes. A retirement pension may not be adequate. Many baby boomers may not be able to obtain any employment after retirement, because of their age. Many baby boomers are capable of working, in some capacity. Many baby boomers want to work in order to have something positive and constructive to do with their time. Some baby boomers may not be able to work any longer or may need to be cared for by others.

Perhaps you are a baby boomer, who does not want to retire at this time, in spite of the fact that you are forced to do so, because of age restrictions related to your current job or other factors calculated into the employment equation. 

Some people may argue that baby boomers are not properly trained to be caregivers to elderly seniors. This may be true in some instances, as elderly seniors may have specific health care needs. Others may suggest that having baby boomers as caregivers for elderly seniors, could present potential problems, if baby boomers attempt to assume the role without being properly trained by professional care givers.

At the same time, it is possible that many baby boomers could be properly trained to give the elderly seniors the essential care that they require. Obviously, training is one obstacle that could be overcome. It might be feasible to establish a program that offers appropriate training and recognition for baby boomers as care givers for elderly seniors.

Would you as a baby boomer, be interested in pursuing such a program? Once you complete the program, you would receive appropriate recognition, as part of a new class of baby boomer care givers.

You may be a baby boomer who has elderly parents or immediate family members in need of care, even now. Perhaps you have decided that you want to assume the role of caregiver for them or feel that you do not have the strength, energy or desire and do not want to take on the burden of re-training, even though you need someone to fill the role of caregiver for an elderly senior.

Whatever your feelings are, ask yourself this question. If there was appropriate, financial remuneration with respect to caring for elderly seniors, would you change your mind and become seriously interested and get involved in this kind of a project? Baby boomers should receive appropriate financial remuneration for assuming the care and responsibility of elderly seniors, even when they are family members. 

There are no easy answers with regard to elderly senior care, as one might ask where the income could, should or would come from. You may suggest that the government should assume the responsibility for it or more specifically, the health care system. Maybe it should come from one designated part of the health care system. Many people object strongly to the funding for elderly senior care coming directly from them or their families. Some elderly seniors have insurance coverage, but many do not.

It would appear at this time, that because of the global economic recession, the government is not in a position to fund elderly care. It appears that the health care system is financially over-burdened. All businesses appear to operate on a deficit. The general consensus is that all businesses can operate legitimately, on a deficit. One wonders how large that deficit can be or become, before alarm bells begin to ring. When it comes to caring for elderly parents and grandparents, beyond the baby boomer generation, can it be resolved on a business level where the business operates on a deficit. On must ask whether the business deficit for elderly senior care would be real or imagined?

One must suggest that "the love of God and one another", must take priority over any government or health care budget deficits, particularly when it comes to caring for one's own, elderly family members. Should this not be the same for others too? It appears that baby boomers may be forced to assume the responsibility for the care of their own elderly family members, whether there is financial remuneration accorded for this or not. As caring, compassionate and committed human beings, we need to have answers to these issues now, solutions based upon human love and compassion, not on a real or imagined deficit.

Perhaps you are one of many baby boomers, who are already care givers for elderly seniors and you plan to continue being a care giver until such a time as you need to be cared for yourself. The majority of baby boomers were raised, trained and educated by parents and others, who showed marked care, compassion and commitment to others. Baby boomers know how to show or offer compassion to others. Perhaps you are an elderly, senior citizen who is currently looking for a caregiver or maybe you know someone who is. Hiring a baby boomer as a caregiver, might present a solution to your personal dilemma.

Having baby boomers as care givers for elderly seniors, may help to resolve what could turn out to be a major crisis for many elderly senior citizens. While no one is going to single handedly resolve the pending health care crisis, there is still strength in numbers, when standing together as baby boomers. 

As a baby boomer, what do you think about all of this? Maybe you could offer some positive, constructive feedback on this article and become an effective problem solver and caregiver too. Employing baby boomers, trained to fill the role of potential caregivers for elderly seniors, would appear to be one possible solution to the health care crisis.