Retired to Rehired: In-Home Caregiving Becomes a Meaningful 2nd Career
A retired labor attorney after decades of employment with The American Federation of Government Employees, 77 year-old Carl Gentile, has found a unique and fulfilling way to spend some of his extra time—as a caregiver with Right at Home of Frederick. “This couldn’t come at a better time for us, we are really feeling the pressure to keep up with the demand for in-home care,” said Carole Luber, Owner of Right at Home of Frederick. “More older adults than ever before want to age in place at home, and they can do it with in-home care and assistance.”
The demand for caregivers is not expected to slow soon, so Right at Home of Frederick is looking toward a unique employment pool of recent retirees who may take an interest in flexible schedules, income opportunities, and, most importantly, a way to give back and make a difference in the lives of others.
People like Carl Gentile, only 4 months into retirement, joined Right at Home. “He came to our table at a job fair at the local mall and our recruiter, Chante Hudson, spotted in Carl a great candidate for a Caregiver.“ Luber added, ”here was this professional retired labor attorney, who speaks several languages, who had this illustrious career, now looking to work for us as a driver to transport seniors to their doctors’ appointments. He was interested in helping people. He started by providing transportation, then went to CNA school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant and a Medication Technician.” When asked what he likes about being a caregiver, Carl responded, "You meet so many interesting, wonderful people. I love hearing their stories”. “This is the best job I’ve ever had,” he added. Carl attributes the great way that the staff at Right at Home treat him to his enjoyment of the job as well. “They are so nice and helpful. They really treat me great. I love coming into the office”. Carl’s job duties include driving clients to medical appointments, providing in-home care and assistance and companionship, a much-needed service to our elderly population.
Nearly 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day, but many are not calling it quits when it comes to work. In the past two decades, the number of people ages 65 and older who are working or returning to work has risen 144%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
“We have several caregivers starting their second career working for us after they retired working in another field," said Carole. “It’s more than a job to them. They can relate to their clients, and I think that’s meaningful for both our clients and our caregivers.”
About Right at Home of Frederick
Right at Home of Frederick has proudly served this community for 20 years. Our mission is to improve the lives of those we serve by providing in-home companionship and personal care to help our clients live well, wherever they call home. For more information, call 301-696-1122 or Contact Us.
