It is very unfortunate that there are still so many deeply entrenched ideas about who should provide live-in care, and who would be unsuitable. In fact, 84% of all carers are female. This figure has remained much the same since 2012.
While there are mostly female carers in the industry, male live-in carers can provide physical strength along with attributes such as patience, kindness and understanding in the same was female carers would.
There are several reasons for the low numbers of male carers, one of them being the time which is normally spent away from family.
Many men have regular jobs which allow them to spend time with their families and to help with childcare. Working and living away from home for extended periods places a huge amount of strain on a partner, particularly if there are children in the home.
However, like female carers, many male carers only start a career in live-in care after a divorce or when the children are no longer living at home, and when they have very few ties to keep them in one place.
Now, with the population aging and more live-in care needed, it is time to change prejudices. These days we no longer automatically assume that our doctors will be male and our nurses female. Society recognizes that both men and women can and do provide excellent care.
Additionally, with the aging population there is a constantly increasing amount of people with more complex needs, and therefore an ever-increasing need for care of all types.
In a report from the charity Independent Age, it is predicted that in twenty years’ time the UK will have shortfall of 350,000 carers.
To meet this need and to avoid a huge crisis in the care industry, recruiting both men and women needs to be a priority right now.
The chief executive of Care England, Professor Martin Green emphasized the importance of recruiting more men into the care industry.
Because the aging population is also made up of men, there is a great need to male carers in situations where clients would prefer their personal care to be carried out by a man rather than a woman. In fact, there are also many women who do not mind a male carer taking care of them.
Many disabled and elderly men may feel more comfortable with a man helping then with personal care, instead of a woman.
Sadly, there are still many preconceived ideas about who provides the best care. Although we may think that women are naturally predisposed to taking care of others, research has shown that both men and women are equally capable of providing care.
While in live-in care there should be equipment in place to make moving and handling easier, hoists can be hard to move around, particularly if an area is carpeted. A male live-in carer may often manage this with greater ease than a female carer.
Helping elderly and frail people in and out of cars or using transfer stands may be easier for a taller man to do, than a smaller lady carer.
Simply because of the way men and women are brought up, some men may find that they prefer the company of a man to a woman. They may find that they have more in common with a male live-in carer who understands the finer points of a sport and enjoys the same interests as they do.
This may not always be the case, but it is a valid point that some men prefer the company of other men to women.
One of the reasons why men do not seek work in the care industry is because they view care jobs as poorly paid. The duties of live-in carers are often unpleasant and there are few opportunities for promotion.
Having said that, the men who do make careers out of care, are often there because of a genuine desire to care for others. They really feel that they can make a difference to someone.
While there are some male live-in carers in the industry, there is a huge need for many more.
There are certainly enough clients for both men and women carers and what male carers we do have should be treated equally to women and appreciated for the value and diversity they bring to the industry.
Tags:
© 2025 EJOBBOARD LTD. All Rights Reserved.