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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people look down on care assistants

173 replies

Fjdowkrialkakvk · 16/04/2022 19:38

And many other low paid jobs in general.
I went to university but I work predominantly as a HCA. I also work one day a week in a 'professional' role related to my degree.
Fortunately I am a relatively well-paid care assistant, earning £2 an hour more than the minimum wage. Many care homes or companies pay the bare minimum wage. I also get time and a half on all bank holidays which not everyone does.

Part of my role involves community care. I've had a client's daughter tell me she was 'surprised' i was in this role as I seemed intelligent and like I had more to offer.
I just take comments like that as tone deaf. I've also had some families of clients who clearly look down at you even though you're assisting their family member to live.
Just earlier I was at a lady's home and her granddaughter was there staying for a couple of days. She asked me to go and do her Grandma's washing up.
The Granddaughter could have bloody done it herself, it's just laziness and probably thinking they're too good to do it themselves.

It's considered a low skill role, and there's a common misconception that high pay must always mean high responsibility and vice versa.

I am physically and verbally assaulted by dementia residents, deal with medication and care equipment, I believe care assistants have a lot of responsibility. Luckily we have many appreciative residents and families.

Has anybody ever felt that such work is looked down upon or considered lowly?

OP posts:
Original poster
Fjdowkrialkakvk · 16/04/2022 19:42

I used to be a Teaching Assistant and a friend told me that I was 'too intelligent' to do that role. It's insulting really

OP posts:
ellie21 · 16/04/2022 19:43

I'm sorry anyone has made you feel this way.
The work you do is WONDERFUL.

IstayedForTheFeminism · 16/04/2022 19:43

Yanbu. I've been told I'm "too intelligent for care work too". I love it. At least I did when I was well enough to do it.

Original poster
Fjdowkrialkakvk · 16/04/2022 19:44

Thank you, that's very kind.
It's very sad how people see this, that care assistants must be thick

OP posts:
Thesheerrelief · 16/04/2022 19:49

I am so incredibly grateful to the care assistants who helped with my mother when she had dementia. They treated her with dignity and kindness and she responded so well to them. I was the only other person she'd let shower her so when I was at work they made sure her basic hygiene needs were met. One of her care assistants happened to be there when my dad collapsed at home with previously undiagnosed heart issues - she called an ambulance and then called me. She possibly saved his life because my mother didn't know what a phone was or how to get help.

TheLoupGarou · 16/04/2022 19:49

Care assistants/HCA's/HCSW's are absolutely worth their weight in gold. Anyone that thinks it's not a skilled role just doesn't fully understand what it entails. Thanks for all the really hard work you do.

Mamabananananana · 16/04/2022 19:51

I dont think anyone will think that way about any of these jobs after the last few years! If they do, theyve got a short memory!
I think its because it's widely known to be hard work for shite money. Hopefully thatll change.
I work in an industry, where we work woth professionals/ academics etc and we do a job which doesnt require formal training, along side them.
Many of us have degrees in other things. Often its the professional/academics that look down on you as you happen to have a degree in a different field- a lot just assume were all school drop outs,it seems!?Hmm

Livelovebehappy · 16/04/2022 19:52

Unfortunately some peopl3 have had bad experiences of poor care of their elderly relatives, so I don't think it's always a case of people looking down on care workers, but more that their experiences have clouded the way they look at them. I must admit ive had a couple of relatives in care homes, and they've been looked after really poorly by people who don't seem to have had training, and tbh coming across as lacking in empathy or any knowledge of how to do the job. It's a shame, as I guess there are many like yourself who do a great job, but unfortunately I've yet to meet one myself.

ellie21 · 16/04/2022 19:52

Any person who does a job which makes a difference to the health or emotional welfare of the most vulnerable has my respect.
Go You.

Cherrysherbet · 16/04/2022 19:54

I think it’s absolutely terrible if this is how you are treated. My mum lives with me, but needs 4x per day carers. Honestly, they are all amazing and I am in awe of them. They are so kind to my whole family.

It’s a very skilled job, and takes a very special kind of person to do it well. You deserve to be paid MUCH more.
Thank you for what you do op. You are totally wonderful for providing care to those who need it.

Anon9990 · 16/04/2022 20:00

HCA’s and other care workers are my eyes and ears in the ward and I absolutely would not be able to do my job without them. They have such a hard job and are not respected enough in my opinion x

Dairymilk50 · 16/04/2022 20:02

There's a lot of hierarchy I'm the NHS especially the band 5 nurses. I don't remember it being like that in the nursing home but then again we all earn a lot less compared to the NHS.
It's disgusting we need people at all levels other wise the cogs wouldn't turn.

Nosetickle · 16/04/2022 20:03

I have nothing but admiration for people who work as care assistants and I would love to be the kind of person with the strength of character necessary to do such amazing work.

A580Hojas · 16/04/2022 20:04

On the contrary, I look up to anyone who works in care.

cansu · 16/04/2022 20:05

I think that care work is very difficult. I have a ds with disabilities and some of his carers have been dedicated and excellent and some have been shit and ignorant. I obviously can't tell you what tone or meaning was implied by the comments to you, but I can tell you how excited and happy we have been when the carer is thoughtful and interested in our son. I should also say he has been badly treated by some carers and one has been prosecuted by the police for abuse.

A580Hojas · 16/04/2022 20:07

Unfortunately, being on the receiving end of of a poor attitude from dementia patients goes with the job. But that doesn't mean you are looked down on, just that that patient is very unwell and can't help themselves. I think most of us "on the outside" understand that.

Movingonup22 · 16/04/2022 20:07

It’s considered lowly because it’s the work that women are expected to do - abs therefore considered of no value.

If you were doing a PowerPoint on how to sell chewing gum much more important because important mens work 🤷‍♀️

Reaally annoys me - because being a good career is a skill and also takes effort…

JollyWilloughby · 16/04/2022 20:07

I’ve been a carer. I also have a degree in health and social care.

It’s an important job but it chips away at your confidence because you spend a lot of your time doing personal care.

There’s no real elegant way to put this but when you are spending your days continuously cleaning 💩 it gets to you!

The voice inside your head knows you could be putting your degree and skill set to better use.

Maybe ask yourself why you’re always going for the assistant roles?

clarepetal · 16/04/2022 20:12

You are an ANGEL, what you do is amazing and I have nothing but respect for you.
People who look down on you have no values, therefore are a bunch of idiots. Flowers

Thedogscollar · 16/04/2022 20:14

I am a midwife and our HCA's are worth their weight in gold. They are most definitely not stupid one left to go to uni and is now training to be a doctor.
It is a tough job and it takes a very special person to do it well. Those that look down on care assistants are the stupid ones.

Suzi888 · 16/04/2022 20:14

@ellie21

Any person who does a job which makes a difference to the health or emotional welfare of the most vulnerable has my respect. Go You.
^this

But people do look down on others, sometimes they don’t even know why.
They don’t need a reason. I don’t particularly rate humans to be honest.

Original poster
Fjdowkrialkakvk · 16/04/2022 20:14

Totally understand that some people have had poor experiences with certain carers and that it changes their view

OP posts:
Original poster
Fjdowkrialkakvk · 16/04/2022 20:16

I do see what you mean, I have just seen those in Management roles, even the seniors, expected to cover shifts all the time when there's sickness etc. And I suppose I just want to choose my hours and not be pressured into constant overtime

OP posts:
JudgeRindersMinder · 16/04/2022 20:16

I couldn’t hold the carers who helped look after my dad in any higher regard! These amazing people helped me retain the single shred of sanity I had at the time. Unfailingly good humoured and they really did care about him and about us as his family, they were fantastic, every single one of them, they went above and beyond in so many aspects of their job

thecurtainsofdestiny · 16/04/2022 20:16

No, it's an incredibly hard and skilful job, no matter how much education someone has had!

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