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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want to become an Occupational Therapist at 42

54 replies

shamalangadingdong · 02/08/2020 07:51

I'd also love to hear from other people that are working as OT's

Most of my working life, until I had children, was as an IT Account Manager. I decided that corporate life is not for me and seeing having a family I have worked part-time doing not particularly challenging jobs while studying an OU degree in Health and Social Care. I was so pleased to get a First.

I had no idea where I wanted the degree to take, me but it was just an area that I was very interested in. My Mum was diagnosed with a chronic illness in her early 30's, as a result we came into contact with lots of health professionals. I also understood from a young age how illness in families can impact the whole family. I believe I'm a good communicator, empathetic, caring and a great problem solver.

For the last year I have been topping up my other part-time job working a shift as a Support Worker with people with Learning Disabilities....and I love it. I get so much satisfaction from it and it makes me feel happy to know that I am making a difference to someone life. I have come into contact with Occupational Therapists while at work and this is a role I would really love to do. I have looked at MSc (Pre Registration) in Occupational Therapy at a nearby University. It is two years long with clinical placements. I feel really excited at the thought of doing this course and I believe I meet the criteria. I am really looking at a career that can take me through to retirement age, the thought of working in my old career leaves me feeling cold. I also know there is lots of scope for further study and to specialise once qualified. I've become stuck in a rut the last few years, doing a part-time job (not the support worker) that doesn't challenge me or make me happy but works around school hours.

I can't help but feel, however, that I am too old. I would be nearly 45 years old by the time I qualify. My husband and extended family have said that they will do everything they can do to support me to do this i.e family members helping out with childcare etc. The thing that is holding me back is confidence but I know that if I don't do this course, I will be stuck in a rut for the long term.

OP posts:
wagtailred · 02/08/2020 07:58

You'd be 47 when you qualified which hives 20 years of career ahead of you (my state pension age is 67). Thats a lot of working years ahead of you. I'd be surprised if you spent 20 years in your previous career.
Go for it!

wagtailred · 02/08/2020 07:59

I miss read that. 45. So 22 years.

Undervaluedandsad · 02/08/2020 08:01

Go for it. The NHS values new starts of all ages. You really won’t be that old and you sound perfect for OT.

Purplewithred · 02/08/2020 08:03

Too old? Hahahahaha, I would be surprised if you were the oldest on your course. Go for it, as working life extends changing careers in your 40s and even 50s is going to become the norm.

ScrapThatThen · 02/08/2020 08:07

You are not too old, people on my course in their fifties. It's generally a career with high satisfaction levels. You could probably get to NHS band 6 two years post qualification. Band 7s are harder to come by as an OT, so specialising would be your best bet. If you like working in LD, I always thought sensory processing was an interesting specialism, but not sure how well funded those services are.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 02/08/2020 08:10

Go for it! It is a very rewarding career for so many reasons.

moomoomummy · 02/08/2020 08:12

Do it! My friend has just started at 49.

Sheepareawesome · 02/08/2020 08:14

Go for it. I returned to university at 30 to train as an OT and there were people in their 50s on the course. You will have plenty of time to get a rewarding career and to make a difference.

SlantyBaws · 02/08/2020 08:16

DH is retraining as a teacher and will be 50 when he qualifies. I reckon we will be working until we are 70 at the going rate, so a change in career at this time of life is eminently possible.

Go for it!

HoopersHat · 02/08/2020 08:16

Never too old. I’m 46 and about to start a two year MA in Social Work. It is obvious from your post how passionate you are. Go for it and good luck with the study.

Original poster
shamalangadingdong · 02/08/2020 08:17

@ScrapThatThen.
It's interesting that you mention sensory issues as its an area that I've been interested in as my eldest has mild sensory issues. You made me feel better saying that there were people in their 50's.

@moomoomummy
I hope your friend is enjoying it. It's lovely to hear of other older people doing the course.

@Sheepareawesome
How did you find the course and the clinical placements? Do you enjoy being an OT? Do you find it stressful?

OP posts:
OwlInAnOakTree · 02/08/2020 08:25

Definitely not too old. I'm retraining as an SLT and will be 49 when I qualify. You still have 20+ years of working life. Best to spend it doing something you love.

riotlady · 02/08/2020 08:32

Yanbu, it’s a great career! I’m currently in my final year of the msc (finish around Christmas, covid allowing) and on placement in a specialist learning disabilities and autism service, so happy to answer any specific questions about either of those.

The thing that convinced me to train was that nearly every OT I met is really enthusiastic about it, and you don’t see that in a lot of careers.

The oldest on my course is 32, but the year ahead of us had a couple people in their 40s and the bsc does too. Imo life experience is a big help actually

Original poster
shamalangadingdong · 02/08/2020 08:40

@riotlady
Thanks for your response. How many placements have you been on? What have you enjoyed most about the placements?
I was also interested to know how much contact time you had on campus prior to Covid-19.

Your post has made me feel very excited. It's so lovely to hear from people that are studying OT and are loving it. Ooooh! I hope they accept me for the course.

OP posts:
Original poster
shamalangadingdong · 02/08/2020 08:41

@OwlInAnOakTree
I love hearing from other older students, good luck on your course.

OP posts:
AutumnLeavesSeptember · 02/08/2020 08:42

It's about the journey, not the destination. Go for it Daffodil

dontdisturbmenow · 02/08/2020 08:44

Go go for it! I know 2 people who've studied it in their late 30s. Both said the Master's was tough, but neither were very academic and had not studies for some time, and both love the job now, 5 and 10 years later.

bruffin · 02/08/2020 08:50

Dd 23 will be in her last Year September. I think you need a 1000 hours of placement.
Her placements have been
Forensic mental health in a medium secure unit
Stroke ward
Erasmus in Belgium in a child rehabilitation unit(thankfully was in last week when covid hit)
Starts her next placement in September.
There is a big age range on her course.
S

Sheepareawesome · 02/08/2020 09:03

My course was a 3 year one, and it was pretty full on during term time but holidays were long. We had a 1 year old when I started and he was in nursery FT during term times so I went to Uni pretty much 9-5 even though the lessons were not full time - it meant I usually got my work and essays done in the daytime and rarely took work home.

Clinical placements vary from one uni to another although you need to do at least 1000 hours to qualify. We did 3 placements, one each year, for the whole term. We were able to get them locally so I didn't need to travel much although we did need to buy a £350 runaround car for my second as it was a rural community placement.

Placements were great, I was lucky to have 3 good ones but even if you don't enjoy them they are not for long and help to narrow down where you want to practice in the future. There is a good culture of students in the NHS and you will be accepted with no problems, even the patients were happy to be seen by a student which initially surprised me - I couldn't believe some the personal stuff they were telling me! In hospital settings you do get to see lots of naked older people which was odd at first but now I don't even really notice. It does make you very blase about the whole body image thing which I found a positive!

I loved studying and I love OT. I found uni a doddle compared to working as there was a lot of down time.

One thing that was unexpected for me is that when I had my first job I found the jump up from student to practitioner felt huge - all of a sudden I couldn't just check with my educator and having consultants asking me stuff in front of other staff and patients was a bit daunting but everyone treats you like you know what you are doing, and after a while you realise you do. It is fine.

riotlady · 02/08/2020 09:06

[quote shamalangadingdong]@riotlady
Thanks for your response. How many placements have you been on? What have you enjoyed most about the placements?
I was also interested to know how much contact time you had on campus prior to Covid-19.

Your post has made me feel very excited. It's so lovely to hear from people that are studying OT and are loving it. Ooooh! I hope they accept me for the course.[/quote]
This is my third placement and I’m just finishing it this week. Placement is really hard work but you learn so much! It’s great to experience different areas of OT, build up your skills and gain confidence. It’s amazing to make a difference to people’s lives and the times when you figure something out or try something and it goes well are really satisfying.

Prior to the course we were probably in university 2-4 days a week, although not always a full 9-5 day. The msc involves a lot of independent studying and a research project, so there’s quite a bit of work outside of contact hours. People on my course who don’t have kids manage to hold down some flexible work alongside uni, I have a 2yo so find the course + childcare manageable, but couldn’t cope with a job on top.

riotlady · 02/08/2020 09:08

*Prior to covid, I mean.

GarlicMonkey · 02/08/2020 09:22

I've just qualified into a profession at 50. I wasn't the oldest on my course & we've all had multiple job offers. Go for it!

Original poster
shamalangadingdong · 02/08/2020 09:27

@Sheepareawesome
Thanks for the insight. As you have dependants, was the University helpful in getting placements reasonably close to home? I will be living a 30-minute journey from the University and it crossed my mind if they send me a distance from the University that may mean lengthy daily commutes. It sounds good staying on Campus 9-5pm even if you didn't have lectures and knuckling down and get work done.
The placements seem very interesting.

OP posts:
Original poster
shamalangadingdong · 02/08/2020 09:30

@riotlady

Thanks for the insight on contact time and juggling childcare etc. My eldest is starting Secondary School so my other focus will be making sure I have the spare time to oversee homework etc as he can be a bit of an unorganised nightmare given half the chance. I won't need to work, DH has agreed to pick up extra slack at home so I can focus on the course and my two boys.

OP posts:
CarolNoE · 02/08/2020 09:51

Placemarking. Good luck op.