I have been working as a care attendant for more than 1 1/2 years and today was my last day of work.

And I feel more than happy and yes a little bit lighter. Since I started my position I had nothing but money troubles, something I never had before! There was not a single month where I wasn’t in my banks overdraft. I have been working for a company who does not pay you anything when you are on a way to another client’s house. This can be anything between a 15 minutes gap to more than two hours and per week that would be easily accumulate £100. And the percentage we get for fuel doesn’t even cover a quarter.

Working in care is mentally so draining the very second I come home, I want to go to bed! You meet a lot of different people, most of them are very nice and so are their family members. But let’s face it, everyone in care is in care for a reason. They need help. The families who look after them, they need help and they are all exhausted.

I wasn’t only carer. I was everything they needed me to be:

• Cook
• Cleaner
• Shopping Assistant
• Psychiatrist
• Punchbag

And sometimes you develop very good relationships with clients and those are the ones who die. 4 clients received end of life care and have died. And I would lie if I’d said it didn’t affect me.

You really need to have a thick skin to work in this field.

Not only because of the service user but also when it comes to the bosses. They can be rude, unorganised and not understanding and you have to cope with this as well.

I for one, would not go back into care.

It just doesn’t pay enough to make it through the month!

Coming Monday I will be starting a new job and I am already a nervous wreck, but determined to make it work!

Until the next time…