Jobs for people with knee osteoarthritis

hope1
hope1 Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
edited February 3 in Work

Hello everyone,

I have a family member (48F) who has a Masters in Biochemistry (from 1997 in India) and is working as a Science Technician in a secondary school over the last decade. She is a valued member of the team and she is very proactive and hardworking. Unfortunately, she has been diagnosed with moderate to severe osteoarthritis in her right knee, with some degree in the left knee. She is able to walk due to hyaluronic injection shots but she does deal with pain and stiffness. Otherwise, she is cognitively active and very passionate about Science.

She wants to change jobs before her condition gets worse. Due to her lack of corporate experience or her career gap due to having children, she could only work as a Science technician.

So my question is, is the UK job market actually accommodating towards people like my family member? Is there even a chance for people like her to change careers before entering her 50s? Any advice is appreciated!

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Comments

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 1,479 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    Hi @hope1

    There are reasonable adjustments that employers should action when they have an employee with a disability. Do you know if you family member has reasonable adjustments in their current workplace? If not, then it is definitely worth them having a chat with their employer about what they would need in order to continue doing their job.

    There is also access to work which your family member can apply for. This grant can help your family members workplace pay for any specialist equipment or support they may need in order to work.

    I'm afraid I'm unable to comment on changing careers before turning 50 or the current UK job market for similar to careers to your family member so hopefully some of our other members can share their experience with this and offer peer support!

    Hope this was helpful, please reach out if you would further support or have more questions 😀

  • Legwax
    Legwax Online Community Member Posts: 123 Contributor

    Online teaching or if not with a teaching qualification, tutoring? If she is interested in English language enough to teach it, she could complete a CELTA course (look at International House to start with), pass that and then teach English to students from other countries specifically so they can start their science Masters in this country? She can do more than she thinks, it depends on what else she would like to do. Still young enough to access training to re-train if she wished.

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