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Hey guys in the article we will discuss the most trending topic in the aged care industry which is: what are the Duties and Responsibilities of an Aged Care Worker? So stay connected with me to get the right information.
As an aged care worker, you can not only make a good living but also make a difference in the lives of older people. The job is equal parts fulfilling and challenging. The Australian government projects a boom in the number of job openings in the aged care sector. About 1,80,000 new openings will come up in Australia over the next five years. Sounds great right?
Making your way into the aged industry is not very tough. If you know how to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of an aged care worker, even better. Surely, it requires natural caregiving tendencies but there is more to this job. By that, we mean the responsibilities that come along with this role. Read on to find out the duties and responsibilities of an aged care worker.
In simple terms, extends personal, physical, and emotional support to the aged. They assist older people with day-to-day activities. This assistance includes tasks simple such as dressing, shopping, preparing food, and feeding. The type and level of help required by the client depend on their health and capability. In many situations, the worker may even need to live with their client. The care is provided in either a client’s home or in a care facility. But, the scope of the job, i.e the duties, and responsibilities of the senior care assistant are defined either by the client himself or per the guidelines of the care facility.
Now that we have some idea about the role of aged care worker duties and responsibilities aged care worker, let us discuss the key aspects of this role.
The Aged care worker duties and responsibilities cover (but are not limited to):
Some clients may have a certain condition that disables them to move on their own. This is why as an aged care worker you may have to deal with clients who are partially or completed disabled. If they use a piece of equipment that helps them walk, you have to make sure you help them out with getting a hold of it. Some elderly people need your assistance in going to the washroom and this is something you should be able to handle.
Routine tasks may not be very easy to carry out for some clients The duties and responsibilities of a senior care assistant include helping out their clients with simple everyday tasks such as:
In many cases, the aged care worker is expected to either cook meals for their client or help with the cooking process. This is why it is best to be familiar with the basics of cooking. Your ability to prepare food will often come in handy.
This one goes without saying, in most cases the elderly need someone to help them with maintaining and upkeeping their place. That’s why the role of an aged care worker requires you to clean and vacuum the living space of your client.
The aged care workers often encourage their clients to actively participate in activities that are good for their overall well-being. These activities may be individual or social. In the context of the aged care industry, social activities may include singing competitions, quizzes, puzzle-solving, etc.
The aged care worker is also in charge of maintaining the hygiene of the client and their surroundings. This may include helping them to take a shower, dressing up, doing laundry, grooming, taking them to the toilet, etc.
Older people have years of experience with them and as a result, many of them are great storytellers. Sit down with them for a little chat and actively engage in a conversation. If your client is shy or hesitant, you can always try to get them to open up.
A little kindness in the form of mental support goes a long way. This is why offering mental support is crucial to being a good care provider.
As an aged care worker, you’ll frequently need to run errands for your client. These errands are fairly easy to take care of a young individual but this may not be the case for the elderly. Outdoor activities may include fetching mail, shopping for basic necessities, and many other tasks.
There are several roles in the aged care sector. The key roles are that of:
The aged care worker mostly helps with tasks that are beyond the ability of the aged persons. These tasks mostly include:
To ensure that the client gets the help they need, the aged care worker takes on certain duties within the care facility. These tasks require supporting them physically and emotionally.
Some duties include:
A residential aged care worker responsibilities is basically to support and empower aged people. This is done by enabling them to carry out their daily tasks while improving the quality of their life. These workers care for their clients within an aged care facility.
These tasks differ based on the scope and location of the care facility. But mostly, the aged care workers’ day begins early and continues till the evening hours.
A community support worker’s role is similar to that of any aged care worker responsibilities to get their clients to participate in community support programs. These workers contribute greatly to the well-being of aged people. For this role, the candidate needs to be passionate and caring. Someone who wishes to make a positive change in the lives of the aged is ideal for this role. For this role, you need to display good leadership as well as communication skills.
Nurses’ aides or nursing assistants typically work in nursing homes, home care, assisted living, hospitals, etc. They may also work in community-based institutions, correctional facilities, etc.
Nursing assistants assist patients with all kinds of daily tasks. They work under the direction of a licensed nurse. The role needs them to remain in contact with every patient on a daily basis. They have a significant role in their patients’ lives. These workers are also responsible to update the nurse about the health vitals of their patients’ condition.
Aged Care Registered Nurses are qualified to provide primary health care to older patients. They mostly work in hospitals, aged care facilities, home care, etc.
To begin your journey as an Aged Care Worker, we recommend completing a course in aged care.
You can also get this qualification by way of a traineeship. This course is aimed at providing the student needs to learn to support people in aged care/health facilities as the community. Certificate III in Individual Support trains you in technical and procedural knowledge to offer care and support to the client. You take up this course as an entryway into the aged care industry.
This course gives you detailed info on aged care, the safety, and legal and ethical protocols required in this field. Certificate IV in Ageing Support will help you change people’s lives for the better. It is also sesbeneficial for your career because you can also work in leadership roles in the aged care industry. With the help of this course, you build a deep working knowledge of offering care to the elderly. Moreover, you can find your own leadership style and get hands-on experience in this lucrative area.
This can boost the chances of getting a good job in the field of the aged care industry, faster.
4. Besides these, you can also boost your resume by volunteering with Seniors and aged care institutes. This experience can also help you find better job opportunities in this high-demand field.
The Aged care worker’s duties and responsibilities may vary from day to day. So from giving urgent help to a client who is unable to get up, to having a chatty tea time with a client, everything is in the middle. Above all else, the aged care workers need to be caring, understanding, and compassionate. On top of that, the ability to build and maintain good relationships with clients will give you an edge in the industry. Last but not least, this demanding and rewarding job is a great way to give something back to the world.