Entrepreneur Advises Healthcare Students To Get Work Experience
With many baby boomers thinking of retirement and a growing population of elderly residents, it shouldn't be surprising that personal care aides and home health aides are among the fastest growing careers in San Francisco. Although these jobs do not rank high among the best paid salaries in the city, the valuable experience could lead to a more lucrative career in other aspects of healthcare, such as in nursing, physical therapy and even a thriving ownership of a senior home care business. One interesting entrepreneur who carved a different pathway towards a career in healthcare is Tony Walker, local franchise owner of ComForCare Home Care. Here's what he had to say about his award-winning business and career tips for people pursuing a career in health care.
What is your background and education?
"I retired in 2002 after a 30-year career in electronics industry (B.Sc. Electronic Engineering and Physics. Loughborough University, UK 1972). In January 2003, I opened a ComForCare Home Care office covering Santa Cruz County. To date, we have interacted with over 1200 clients, delivered over 725,000 hours of care and in a typical month service over 170 cases. We have been voted 'Best in Santa Cruz' (senior care category) by the readers of the 'Santa Cruz Good Times' newspaper in 2013, 2014 and most recently 2015. In addition to working with seniors, we have been providing respite for families of persons with developmental disabilities (autism, cerebral palsy etc)."
What do you like most about your job?
"Very simple answer – it's all about helping people!"
What career advice can you share to nursing or healthcare students?
"Get some experience working as a part-time caregiver while a student so you can get to know whether you really like caring or helping others and earn some money to help defray tuition costs. Besides, your professor would be more impressed with you working as a caregiver as opposed to flipping burgers or making coffee."
Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.
