There are few things more crucial to a family than being able to look after one another. The old look after the young, and the young look after the old. Things have started to change in recent times, though. More couples now share the weight of parenthood than ever before, and both sides of a household are more likely to work, especially in the South West. This allows people to live fulfilling lives and provide a good upbringing for their children, but it also limits the time they have to look after their older relatives.
Care facilities used to be able to bear this burden, but that’s changing too. Forecasts suggest the number of over-85s who need care will reach about 2.7 million by 2040. Plenty of younger people need this support too, and the strain on care services is already too much for them to cope with. Frontline care workers carry much of this strain directly, and they regularly face unfair overtime rules, zero-hour contracts, and little in the way of career progression.
You can overcome this in your own career. Pinnacle Business Finance is here to help. While this article is mostly aimed at people in the South West, much of it applies to other regions too. First, though, let’s look at what’s causing these problems.
The Problem With Care In The South West
Anyone who has had to pay for care will tell you it doesn’t come cheap. People who can’t afford their own care will often get help from their local council, but if you’re unlucky enough to have a home or savings when you go into care, the council could take these to cover the costs. Strict government budgeting constraints on the care sector cause this, and councils can only afford to pay for care for those in the greatest need.
While some people pay for the care they receive, this money barely covers the costs of running a care home. As a result, these places are usually understaffed, and agency workers on zero-hour contracts fill the gaps. Many care homes and other support facilities also struggle to provide proper training. With some county and district councils facing the threat of bankruptcy, it’s hard to see how this will improve. Instead, private companies are taking over more and more of the care homes that used to belong to the government.
Privatisation And The Squeeze On Care Budgets
When a private company takes over a home like this, it will usually still receive money from the government. The shareholders who own the business will want to take some profit from this, and the management will also receive bonuses. Between 2017 and 2018, the Department of Health and Social Care had a budget of £125.15 billion, but it set aside just £15.32 billion for things outside the NHS. That may sound like a lot, but it’s a tiny amount considering how much it has to cover.
So, in short, the government can’t afford to provide the care people desperately need, but it also can’t afford to look like it isn’t providing it. This means the weight of these short budgets always falls onto the shoulders of hard-working carers. Whether you work for an agency or directly for a care facility, you’ve probably felt the cuts in recent times. We’re here to offer a solution.
Using Domiciliary Care
There is a huge demand for private care at the moment. Depending on the area, some people who need care have to wait months or even years to access it. Around 15% of people aged between 65 and 69 find at least one daily activity difficult, and that’s before you consider the other age groups that need daily support.
By working as a self-employed domiciliary care worker in the South West, you can bring the care people need straight to their door. This can make someone’s life a lot more comfortable, whether they have decades left or are nearing the end of their life, and you can build a very good career in the process. There are several different types of domiciliary care:
- Live-in carers stay in their service user’s home, usually working one week on and one week off in rotation with two or three other carers. This option suits those who need the most stringent support.
- Daytime carers stay in their service user’s home during the daytime. They provide company and personal care, and make sure their service user stays safe and sound, working hours similar to a normal job.
- Short visit carers help with a few tasks each day for people who prefer to limit the care they receive. Performing short visits lets you take on more service users, which makes your job more secure.
You don’t have to restrict yourself to just one of these. You can do all three at different times if you like.
The Benefits Of Working For Yourself
Each of these options offers a good hourly rate, and working for yourself gives you the freedom to request a higher wage than you’d get working for a big company. You won’t have to cover the overheads of a big business, either, which means you can charge more without overcharging the vulnerable people you work with. Alongside this, working for yourself lets you keep the benefits of your labour, rather than handing them to a company that profits from you.
How Can Pinnacle Business Finance In The South West Help?
As a financial broker working with businesses of all types, Pinnacle Business Finance is well-placed in the South West to support you on your journey. Our expert team can help you get started with your business, as well as with the financial side of things.
A business loan we source for you could give you the chance to get set up, potentially with a professional website, some business cards, and all of the equipment you’ll need. Invoice finance can make it easier to cover recurring costs like wages. Growing a business always requires investment, and we understand this can be difficult to find when you’ve been working in the care industry. No matter your circumstances, we’ll always do as much as we can to support you. We encourage anyone thinking of a career change like this to get in touch.
