Is It Possible for a Healthcare Worker to Be Too Old to Work at the Bedside?

In the past, it was normal to have one job and keep it for life. Today, this is no longer the only option. In fact, the average Australian will have 12 different jobs throughout their working life. In short, you have plenty of opportunities to change your career path and even retrain.

Of course, if you’re going to change careers, it’s a good idea to make sure you have the proper training. The best way to do this is to take a look at the courses currently available here and study while working. This will ensure you are properly qualified and have the latest knowledge regarding your industry.

Alongside this, it will make it easier to show you’re dedicated to your new career choice.

Of course, as you age, some jobs are easier to start than others. If you’re older and considering a switch to bedside carer, then you need to know if your age is an issue.

Physical & Mental Fitness

As you get older, you lose physical strength and are more likely to suffer from age-related conditions, such as cognitive decline. Unfortunately, many people don’t see the decline in themselves and may not be able to tell if it is affecting the level of service they can offer.

Equally, bedside nursing can require assisting people, and this can be physically demanding.

Neither of these means that you are too old to work at the bedside. But, you do need to be aware of your own limits and know when you are pushing yourself too far.

Alongside this, it’s a good idea to have a friend or trusted colleague check on you periodically and give you honest assessments of your cognitive abilities. You can return the favor, and it helps to ensure you are mentally capable of giving the very best bedside care.

Being Able To relate

When you’re older, and your patients are also older, you’ll find it easy to relate to them. But, if you’re offering bedside care to younger patients, you need to be confident that you can relate to their situation without judgment.

This can be hard when you have years of experience and may even have made the same mistakes. But, part of being older and potentially giving you a better bedside manner is being able to offer care and advice without judgment and accepting that the pressures facing young people today are different from those facing you now and when you were younger.

The Bottom Line

It’s perfectly possible to get into or return to bedside care when you’re older, in your fifties, sixties, seventies, and older. You simply need to be aware of what the job entails and make sure you take time for yourself.

This will help to ensure you offer the best possible bedside care while remaining fit and healthy yourself. Don’t forget that older people that are active mentally and physically are less likely to experience age-related issues. Offering bedside care could be beneficial for your own health.