work help: I’m 18, and as my first job have become a care assistant in an old peoples home, but I’m not sure I can do it. - Help.com

It might well be nerves, or perhaps you feel overwhelmed, like you can’t do it. I’d say, listen to your gut feeling - tell someone, a supervisor or a colleague, how you feel and ask them to keep an extra eye on you. Or maybe you can get a couple of extra days of induction period?

I’m a care assistant, too, and I know how hard it can be. It’s more than worth it, though, when they tell you how much they appreciate your help :) Personally, I love my job, and I know it’s right for me. It’s not right for everyone though: we’ve had people start work in the home and leave soon after, because they’re not suited to the work.

Are you qualified? Or just out of high school?

I’m 18 and just finished school and I had to do that too, but I was never left alone! I helped nurses by they checked in on me.

Maybe if you stop worrying about yourself for a few minutes, and think about other people for a while, it might help you out. I know it’s stressful and strange to have to take care of people in such a way. But put yourself in their position. Can you imagine how embarrassing and strange it is for THEM? They have some stranger bathing them, and emptying their bedpans, and having to spoon-feed them. Do you have any idea how humiliating that is for a grown and dignified adult… to be treated like an invalid and a child?

I know you’re uncomfortable with it all, but you’ve got the easy life in this situation. If you’re not sure you are doing something right, then ask somebody for help. If you aren’t confident, tell somebody you would feel MUCH better if somebody could come by and check your work after you’re done. But don’t let the nerves get to you. Just be compassionate, use common sense, ask lots of questions, take lots of notes, and learn from your mistakes. Because you will make mistakes. That’s part of the learning process.

Thank you all. I’m growing more sure that I will get used to it with time.

I’m in pretty much the same situation as you, Anonymous, and I would still get checked up on by nurses every so often, but they only ever have one nurse on duty and they are chronically under-staffed, meaning I would have to do a lot of the care work alone.

that’s sounds like a wonderful job, Talk to the people
Most old people like to talk, so you’ll just listen
I should know I’m 195 yr old woman
God bless, you’ll be fine
make sure you smile it cheers people up :)

griffin195 wrote:
that’s sounds like a wonderful job, Talk to the people
Most old people like to talk, so you’ll just listen
I should know I’m 195 yr old woman
God bless, you’ll be fine
make sure you smile it cheers people up :)

And to think… you don’t look a day over 150!

Blest wrote:
[And to think… you don’t look a day over 150!

Thank you I never lay out in the sun, i remember when i was very young
my great aunt told my sun bather Aunt it causes wrinkles

emmaadams193 wrote:
Thank you all. I’m growing more sure that I will get used to it with time.

I’m in pretty much the same situation as you, Anonymous, and I would still get checked up on by nurses every so often, but they only ever have one nurse on duty and they are chronically under-staffed, meaning I would have to do a lot of the care work alone.

It isn’t an easy job by any means, but it makes me incredibly happy, and you might find it makes you happy, too. Like you said, you’ve only done one shift, and you’ll probably feel much more comfortable as you get more used to it and more confident in what you’re doing.