Anyone near 60 starting as a CNA?

quietstorm212 · Feb 19, 2013

I work as a home health aide for 4 years it has its ups n downs. I do Live in so the money is decent however I do want to upgrade to medical assisting or patient care tech but in order to get to patient care tech id have to take my cna first. I hear cna is very hard back breaking work from a rn who used to work as one as well as students in my sisters lpn class. Home health aide u deal with one patient n cna u have to help multiple patients its a lot.

soxgirl2008 · Feb 19, 2013

I'm a CNA in a hospital, and one of the CNAs I work with is in her 70s. She's good too!

Cathylady · Feb 19, 2013

I'm a CNA in a hospital, and one of the CNAs I work with is in her 70s. She's good too!

Soxgirl2008 you made my day!!!

Are you a White Sox fan or a Red Sox fan?

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

soxgirl2008 · Feb 20, 2013

White sox =)

Cathylady · Feb 21, 2013

White sox =)

I'm a former Chicago resident myself, I was born there. Southsiders are all White Sox fans!

Thanks for your post about your 70 year old co-worker. That really sealed the deal for me!

ElsaKay · Feb 27, 2013

Perhaps you do have the fitness at 60 to do this, and if there is a 70-year old doing this job, I salute you.

However, I am 24 and have been an aide for a little over a year now, and I feel like I've aged ten years. Despite your best intentions, perfect body mechanics aren't always possible. By month six my back never stops hurting, and now it's my knees.

If I made it to 60 still fit and spry, I wouldn't want to blow that on this kind of job at that age.

However, I do think others are correct that being a Home Health Aide may be a good fit for someone older. I love taking care of people, but I don't know how long my body will hold up doing this. Currently transitioning to hospice care, which may be easier on the body.

nurseywifeymommy1 · Feb 27, 2013

I think you should volunteer. Or become a cna but be a "feeder" only. Back breaking work is right. You wont hv time to become attached or give good care bc u will hv too many pts. Don't do it.

Skayda · Feb 28, 2013

I've been teaching for 30 years and have always wanted to be a nurse in a hospital. I think being a CNA will allow me the patient contact I'm looking. I've loved teaching but would like to work part-time during the summers as a CNA. As many of my coworkers are thinking of retiring I'm ready for a career change. So am I crazy or is there anyone else out there starting in their very late 50's?

One of my fellow CNA students is in her early 50s.

Cathylady · Feb 28, 2013

I think you should volunteer. Or become a cna but be a "feeder" only. Back breaking work is right. You wont hv time to become attached or give good care bc u will hv too many pts. Don't do it.

I am signed up to volunteer at St. Francis but volunteers have very little patient contact. I'm going to have to give this some serious thought. I had no idea it would be back breaking. Yikes...

Thank you so much for your advice.

Cathylady · Feb 28, 2013

What is a 'feeder?'

LightX · Feb 28, 2013

I'm 47 and just starting as a CNA in a nursing home. It's exhausting. I did the training because I love being around and helping older folks. However, in a nursing home I have NO time to chat with them. It's not at all what I thought it would be.

You may find doing home care either as a CNA with training (pays more) or as a home health aide, doing basically the same thing with less pay. You will have one to one time, it's not as physical, but, for me, can get pretty boring.

In home care, you can pretty much set your schedule, and keep your availability set as only available during the summer or school vacations, (you can't do that in a nursing home or hospital).

esand · Feb 28, 2013

At the first facility I worked at, one of my most hard working and appreciated co-workers was 67, and had been working there for 5 years. She taught me a lot of things and really made my first week memorable. You're never too old to go after what you want, I'd say go for it! You've got absolutely nothing to lose and CNAs your age are not uncommon!