11.

“Aide work for older adults or those living with disabilities. I hate the advertisements and TikToks that make it look like a fun job where you hang out with a buddy daily.”

“Yes, those friendships can happen and may occasionally be fun and rewarding.

But what they don’t show is you getting smacked in the face, having your hair pulled, being punched, kicked, scratched, spat on, and having things thrown at you. Not to mention the verbal abuse — not only from clients and their families but also from coworkers and sometimes your boss. 

You’re told you’re not allowed to say ‘no’ to any requests, and then you’re blamed because your client behaves in a certain manner. You’re given no support whatsoever, no defense training, no de-escalation training. You watch your clients be ripped off, abused, taken advantage of and are then told to keep your mouth shut or you’ll lose your job. You spend 10 hours per day on your feet, bending and lifting, constantly moving, and dealing with urine, feces, blood, vomit, snot, and drool incessantly — alongside being expected to do literally everything because some of the people you care for view you as a servant, not as someone to support them through everyday life.”

—u/Livid-Attempt9892