Aged care is important because all of us age. Old age impairs our independence; that’s why there’s aged care. An aged care worker is responsible to making sure that the elderly will be able to enjoy a high-quality of life and still be able to enjoy their senior years with freedom, mobility, and dignity. This job has an immense impact on the seniors’ lives and this job is one of the most rewarding careers in any economy. This is why this job is also seen to become even more important in the many years to come. To be part of this industry, it’s integral to enroll in a good-quality aged care course like the one offered by the Selmar Institute of Education.
The following are several duties of aged care professionals who are in general responsible for the well-being of their clients throughout their lives: accompanying the client in their daytime activities, preparing their meals, helping in personal care, organizing social activities, assisting them to become more mobile, completing housekeeping chores, doing errands and shopping, and offering friendship, company, and emotional support. It also includes abiding by an individual treatment plan for every client and liaising with other health professionals employed by their clients’ families.
If you want to be a carer, there are two paths for you to take. One is to study aged care and that means to finish an aged care course or to undergo apprenticeship or traineeship. Aside from these, an aged care provider also needs a first aid certificate. There are some employers that require you to have driver’s license, manual handling training, and a national police check.
In Australia, those who study aged care have to complete a VET Qualification in Ageing Support or Individual Support. The specializations and courses differ across different providers. That’s why you have to research all that’s included in the courses you consider taking.
You may also opt to have the traineeship which entails studying and working simultaneously, and receiving formal training while on the job. This needs to be conducted through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). During completion, you will receive a VET Qualification.
Being an aged care professional, you might be interested to know where you will be five years from today. The good thing about this developing industry is that there are different kinds of aged care, lots of branches, and specialized services you may venture into. These include residential care, specialized dementia care, respite carer, palliative are, and others.
Residential care is the most common position in the industry. This refers to caring for the elderly who reside in an aged care facility. This is intended for the elderly who don’t need professional aged care professionals, but need one to accompany one every once in a while when they take a break.