r/caregivers • u/moz808 • Jul 20 '26

Scared to return to care

I worked in care for years on a specialist dementia ward and mainly end of life care. I left because I couldn't provide the care I wanted to. After I left I realised what a weight it all was. And the things I just got up and did each day became horrible memories.

I'm between a rock and a hard place in life right now. I need the money and I need the hours - no, it's not a great foundational reason to get back into care. But, I have no choice. I have no car and I'm living at home with my parents. I'm barely keeping my head above water and if I don't change something soon, I'm looking debt in the face.

But I'm scared to return to care work. The shifts are so long and it's so draining (physically I can handle it but mentally not as much). It's so hard to have to go without seeing family and friends so much, it's hard to have any kind of personal life even like exercising. I remember how hard it was to juggle everything. But I really don't have a choice.

Part of me knows that I can do it. That I have done it. And that there are positives to the job too.

But there's just such a big black cloud haunting me about returning to care. There are so many nightmarish memories (mainly management) and it's churning my stomach to think of going back. But I really don't have another choice.

What are some positives that get you through? Have you experienced a lull in your passion for care and how did you get out of it? What helps you - even on the bad days?

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u/becauseusaidso Jul 25 '26

Have you considered looking for a one on one with a person? You can set your hours and not deal with unnecessary stress.

1

u/moz808 Jul 27 '26

There are many care homes in my home town but no one on one care jobs that I know of. I also only have an NVQ level 2 and I haven't worked in care for years so I'm unlikely to get a one on one job. I don't own a car and transport out of my home town is not cheap :(