Holly Springs, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/19/2010 -- With the national unemployment rate remaining stubbornly high at 9.7 percent and more and more news of companies going under, where on earth can you find a job? Look no farther than your aging parents and relatives, who are creating one of the biggest economic booms this country has ever seen. In the coming years, two out of ten people in the U.S. will be age 65 or older and there just aren’t enough people to take care of them. That’s why care giving for the elderly is an exploding sector of the growing national health care industry. This year alone, the in-home care industry is expected to grow by 12.5 percent, adding more than 100,000 new jobs.

“Senior care is a thriving industry with no sign of a slow down in sight,” says Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers, the nation’s fastest growing provider of in-home senior care. “We employ more than 6,000 caregivers nationally and we are hiring at most of our 283 locations. In-home care is recession-resistant, rewarding work that provides peace of mind for families who just can’t be with their senior loved ones all of the time.”

WHY JOB GROWTH IN SENIOR CARE?

• A recent study by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) shows that over the next 25 years as the Baby Boomers continue to age, the proportion of people needing care will increase while the number of adult children able to take care of them will decrease. Bottom line: There will be fewer American adults able to take care of aging parents!
• More than 43 million people in the U.S. – 19 percent of adults – provide care for an elderly family member or friend.
• The NAC reports the typical caregiver is a middle-aged daughter caring for an elderly parent or grandparent while juggling a family and a job simultaneously. Nearly 100 percent report emotional strain, most report financial strain and 68 percent miss work because of care giving responsibilities.

“The burden usually falls on one of the adult children who already juggles a family, a job and all the responsibilities that go with their own life,” says Ross. “More and more seniors want to stay in their own homes and professional caregivers can make this possible by taking the burden off of adult children.”

REWARDING WORK FOR AMERICANS – AN ECONOMIC BRIGHT SPOT

Nichole Henry was out of work when she got the job as a Senior Helpers’ caregiver. She is studying to become a registered nurse (RN) and works helping elderly clients prepare meals, take their medication on time and simply listen when they want to talk. “I wanted a rewarding job and I’ve found my calling,” says Henry. “There is no job greater than helping others who can’t do for themselves. I listen to their concerns with an open heart and it makes all the difference in the world!”

WHY DO THIS STORY?
It affects MILLIONS of people because it’s about:

• JOB OPPORTUNITY
• A GROWING ECONOMIC SECTOR
• A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS OR WILL AFFECT MOST FAMILIES

About Senior Helpers:
Senior Helpers connects professional caregivers with seniors who wish to live at home as opposed to a nursing or assisted living facility. The company has 283 franchises in 39 states and one in Canada offering a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care.

For more information, please visit: http://www.seniorhelpers.com/

Media Contact
Sue Yannello
syannello@seniorhelpers.com
919.459.8162/919.557.7890

Jon Weiner
jweiner@seniorhelpers.com
919.459.8161/919.557.7890