Labour of love: Care workers are not just 'glorified' bum wipers

A home care worker has won praise for her heartfelt defence of carers on social media by challenging the idea they are 'glorified' bum wipers, since a day’s work can require her to be as ‘a cleaner, a cook' and 'a hand to hold.'

Twenty-four-year-old care worker Beth Sturgis has worked in social care for four years but grew weary of hearing negative comments about care workers. She decided to set the record straight about what people in her profession actually do and her Facebook post has since gone viral.

In an effort to dispel a few myths about social care in a post that has generated over 5,000 views, the home care worker wrote how nothing annoys her more than when someone refers to care workers as ‘glorified’ wipers of bums.

‘Today I was a cleaner, a cook, a hand to hold, a friendly face, a washer, a dresser, a helper, a carer; today I was human.’

Miss Sturgis describes her time with a lady living with ‘a cruel disease’ and notes: ‘I saw the pain in her eyes, the “Why me?”, the frustration behind her smile and her braveness and will to live through this.’

The care worker also writes of the impact of Alzheimer's with the words: ‘Today I administered medication to a lady living life with Alzheimer’s.

'Medication that will not prevent the fact that one day she may go from not remembering where she put something to not remembering who her own family are, medication that will not cure this horrible disease because one has not been found yet.'

’There are days I come home and cry'

Ms Sturgis has cried at many funerals for those she has cared for. She says ‘the impact that has on me is sometimes as sad as the loss of my own family, because it is hard to not become attached. But I do this job because I CARE.’

She admits: ‘No my job is not easy, there are days I come home and cry because of things I have to deal with, things that I cannot control and things that I cannot wave a magic wand and cure, and believe me I have a lot of those moments where I pray I could. I have hard days but I also have amazing days.’

She even admits to being paid less an hour than someone who stacks shelves in a supermarket but says while this is annoying 'Would I go stack shelves? No. Because nothing beats the smile I put on someone’s face.’

She goes on to say: ‘I am proud to be a carer and to work in this industry. No I do not save lives, but I sure as hell make them easier for someone to live. To all you carers out there, I salute you.’

In response to her words, the public has applauded her bravery and the efforts made by her and care workers nationwide. Her post has generated more than 5,000 views.

Comments made in response to her post include: ‘Stand up straight hold your head up and carry on your amazing work.’ Another told her: ‘The hardest job to do at times but pat yourself on your back, you’re doing a brill job’. Another wrote: ‘I totally agree with every word you wrote and I would like to salute you and all the carers.’

Consider care work: ‘You won’t regret it’

The public's comments have prompted more inspiring words from Ms Sturgis who has since written: ‘I am overwhelmed and shocked with the amount of likes, comments and shares my post has received.

‘Thank you for your lovely comments and thank you again to each and everyone of the carers out there for all you do. You make the world a better place! To those considering a role in the care industry I promise you you won’t regret it!’

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