Caring for the Elderly: Overview, Pros & Cons [& More]

Caring for the elderly can be a fantastic side hustle that helps you bring more money each month. But how profitable, easy, or risky is it?

Here’s a breakdown of what elderly care is about and how you can get into this side of the gig economy.

An Overview of Caring for the Elderly: A Primer

Elderly care is a modern side hustle that involves helping older people in several ways, such as:

• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Driving them around
• Personal care (like helping them with personal hygiene)
• Making sure they take their medication
• Socializing with them, etc.

They can opt for an in-home care environment and live with their client or commute to their house to provide their services.

Experienced caregivers may have some bigger responsibilities.

Some older people might need more medical assistance like checking blood pressure or specialized care if they are dealing with certain health conditions, such as dementia.

But, there are elderly care jobs for all levels of experience, including beginners.

How Much Can Caring for the Elderly Earn You?

According to ZipRecruiter, a senior caregiver earns an average of $15.87 per hour, which could also go as high as $18.99 per hour. But, it can vary greatly from state to state.

The longer the hours you’re willing to work, the higher your chances of earning more money.

Unfortunately, senior care jobs aren’t as lucrative as many side hustles (no matter how experienced you are) especially considering how much effort you may need to put in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKoPoYz-gWs

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Side Hustle Caring for the Elderly?

The good part about caring for the elderly jobs is that you may not need any special degree, especially if you won’t be performing non-medical services.

However, you may need a high school diploma or GED certificate to work in some specific roles.

Depending on the course, an online high school program can cost between $1,000 and $20,000.

Also, you may need specialized training for some roles.

For example, some states require you to get certifications like a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to work as a senior caregiver.  

But there are also gigs that look for people with no special qualifications or previous experience, such as those where you have to drive a person once a week to their doctor’s appointment and keep them company.

For those jobs, you don’t have to invest a penny.

Where Can You Find Gigs Caring for the Elderly?

You can find senior care jobs either independently or via gig economy platforms.

Both options are great, but they can bring different results.

Where to Independently Find Gigs Caring for the Elderly

You can target local senior centers and post flyers or leave a few brochures or business cards with the community members.

The community hall is another location where you should advertise your services.

You can also leverage online ad companies like Craigslist.org to connect with new prospects.

Even better, you can create a website where you tell people about your profession and the services you offer.

This is a great way to reach adult children if you’re interested in getting paid to care for parents.

Gig Economy Companies that Offer Gigs Caring for the Elderly

Gig economy platforms have a long-standing history of helping people get jobs, including senior care jobs. Sites like Indeed and Glassdoor are great for getting caregiver jobs and other jobs as well.

Still, several platforms specifically cater to caregivers, and you stand a higher chance of getting your next gig there. A good example is Care.com (Senior Care) and Visiting Angels.

Papa also provides the right platform for people who’d like to give back to society by offering private home care services.

To increase your chances of getting hired, it’s better to explore both independent and gig economy platforms.

Why You Should Consider Caring for the Elderly as a Side Hustle

Senior care jobs are in high demand for several reasons.

If you’re wondering whether this career path is the right side hustle for you, here are some reasons you should consider elderly care jobs as a side hustle:

• Flexible employment: Senior caregivers can work part-time or full-time or even freelance with a few different clients, depending on the type of care they provide.
• Opportunity to develop your skill set: To become a better and more professional senior caregiver, you can take specialized training. This will help to improve your skills and make you a more professional caregiver who can do more than run errands.
• Giving back to society: Senior caregiver jobs are a great way to give back to society. Taking up this job shows how compassionate you are and how far you’re willing to care for people incapable of taking care of themselves.

Problems With Caring for the Elderly

While it’s great to work as a senior caregiver, here are some issues you might experience along the way:

• Potentially less pay: You may not get adequate compensation for the services you assist seniors. This makes this job less rewarding than other side hustle jobs out there.
• Not as flexible as you’d like: Your clients are older people who depend on you for continued personal care, which can mean you don’t always get to set your working hours.
• Emotional challenges: There’s a high chance that you’ll create a strong connection with your client. This can lead to emotional problems as you watch them get older or even die. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Values of Elderly Care?

Some important values of elderly care include honesty, hospitality, compassion, and always treating clients with privacy and respect. You also need to demonstrate understanding and be an effective communicator.

What Are the Types of Elderly Care?

There are different kinds of elderly care, including adult daycare, live-in care, 24-hour home care, elderly care facilities, or living with a family member.