Woman writes heartwarming open letter about being a care worker
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Your support makes all the difference.Overworked, underpaid and in charge of looking after your loved ones, most of us don’t think about what it takes to be a care worker until we really have to.
And, as a result, they’re generally stereotyped as people who only work in care because they’re not qualified to do anything else or, as Beth Sturgis from Plymouth puts it, as “glorified a** wipers.”
A carer for almost four years, the 24-year-old recently penned an open letter on Facebook to those who look down on the care profession, admitting that nothing upsets her more than people who believe all she does is clean bottoms.
“I wrote the post because I see in the media a lot of the bad sides of care and people always assume we are just someone who pops in and does an easy job and leaves just like that,” she tells The Independent.
“I wanted people to know we are so much more than that and we truly do care about our customers and clients.”
In the post, Sturgis reveals that her job as a care worker involves so much more than people assume, requiring her to be everything from a cleaner to a cook, a hand to hold and a friendly face.
“Today I helped a man that has lived through the war wash and dress because old age has now hit him and he is unable to walk or do these things for himself because his body is ageing faster than his mind,” she writes.
“Today I helped a lady who this time last year was living her life normally to complete her normal daily tasks because she is now living her life with a cruel disease that has taken over her body and left her unable to do these things for herself.
“Today I administered medication to a lady living life with Alzheimer’s. Medication that she doesn’t even know why she’s taking it, medication that I know, and that she knows, will not prevent the inevitable.”
Sturgis goes on to discuss the impact her job has own her own life, admitting that while she has amazing days at work, others are more difficult to endure.
“I have attended funerals of those I have helped, those who I have seen twice maybe even four times a day and I have cried at the loss of those lives.”
The 24-year-old also discusses the fact that care workers generally receive minimum wage, revealing that she earns less caring for people’s relatives than others do stacking shelves in supermarkets.
“I feel we deserve more money and way more respect for what we do. Without us those in need could not live their lives as they do,” Sturgis tells The Independent.
“We are the frontline to those in need and we go above and beyond our roles. The money is not enough for the physical and mental strain we take.”
Despite this, the carer says she would never leave her profession as she finds it so rewarding.
“I honestly can say that I feel it’s in my blood, my family are all in the line of public service, my mother is also a carer and I saw how much she loved it and thought I’d give it a go. My late father worked on the ambulances in America in the fire station and other family members are in the medical side of things,” she adds.
“I’ve always been passionate about the needs of others and feel it was my calling and I was destined to help those in need.”
The young woman’s post has since gone viral receiving more than 8,000 likes and 6,000 shares.
Thousands of people also left comments, some thanking her for her hard work, and others in similar roles who can relate.
“Well done Beth, you and your colleagues are worth your weight in gold. Where would we be without you? I dread to think. Please keep up the good work and believe many, many people do recognise what you do for our vulnerable older citizens,” one person wrote.
Another added: “I’m a support worker and it’s not my job it’s my vocation. I feel valued, I feel appreciated, I feel like everyday I and all of us in care change lives. Proud of all of us who care.”
Following the incredible response her post received, Sturgis told The Independent that she has been overwhelmed and shocked with the amount of likes, comments and shares.
“I honestly didn’t expect to have such a vast amount of people contact me personally and thank me for the post and for the work I do. I didn’t do it for personal recognition I did it because I feel everyone out there that’s a carer deserves some gratitude and thanks for all they do!
“As to anyone who is considering the role I would honestly push them to do it. They won’t regret it! Yes there are good and bad days like any job but the good by far outweighs the bad!"
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