How can I get a career in home help for the elderly?
Well I have no experience in caring for elderly people at all but I have recently decided to follow my dream and work towards a future in caring for elderly. Only not in a nursing home but actually going to the homes of the elderly and helping. I’m 25 years old, what should my next step be? Should I go to college and what qualifications would I need? I’m struggling to find much about this online and wonder, also if you could send a link with your answer to a suitable website. Thank you in advance.
Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that focuses on health care of the elderly. It aims to promote health and to prevent and treat diseases and disabilities in older adults.
There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician. Rather, this is determined by a profile of the typical problems that geriatrics focuses on. This includes the so-called ‘geriatric giants’ of immobility, instability, incontinence and impaired intellect/memory. Health issues in older adults may also include elderly care, delirium, use of multiple medications, impaired vision and hearing.
The term geriatrics differs from gerontology. This is the study of the aging process itself. The term comes from the Greek geron meaning “old man” and iatros meaning “healer”.
If you want to do home health care and dealing with the elderly its very simple. You can either get certified as a Nurse Aide or you can work as a companion. Now the difference between the two is that the CNA can do more such as vitals, provide cares and etc… On the other hand the companion can only do like meal preparation, light housekeeping, run errands and etc…. By being a CNA you would have a more advantage and more opportunities and it does not take that long to become certified. I’ve been doing this type of work for 9 years now and I love it wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. If you chose to go on for your CNA than you can even look into becoming a Medication Aide where you can just administer meds and not necessarily deal with the providing cares part. Go for it I think you will like it and grow to love it just like me.
General career info for registered nurses, personal and home care aides or such: and can type into search.
If interested in training to become a home health aide, please forgo those private $$ schools and instead opt for the more affordable county vo-tech school or commuity college as long as it’s accredited within the industry.
people are going to think you wont to be a nurse the way you have written this hun lol you mean a care assistant it depends on the home some take on unqualified staff and train them while they are working and others prefer to employ with qualifications, i myself have just applied for a care assistant role at a local dementia nursing care i have an nvq level 2 in health and social care which you will need if your to go on to work unaccompanied in a care home with no training.
in order for you to gain this qualification like i said maybe phone your local homes and let them know you would like to get into that kind of work and if they offer a training scheme.
best of luck if you need any advice dont be afraid to email me im here to help x c x