Gerontology assistant, Gerontology aide, Direct-care worker

Geriatric nursing assistants are a key figure in the care of dependent elderly people, since they are in charge of their care, in social institutions, geriatric residences or day centres.

These professionals help elderly persons carry out everyday activities which they are no longer able to perform by themselves (getting up, getting dressed, going to the bathroom, showering, personal hygiene, etc.), carry out comprehensive care tasks for users and in the space where users live (cleanliness and order) and collaborate in preventive and stimulating intervention together with other professionals, with the aim of maintaining skills and at the same time contributing to the users' well-being and quality of life.

• Help users get up, get dressed and undressed.
• Help users with their personal hygiene tasks and collaborate in the care and prevention of problems related to the elimination and control of sphincter incontinence.
• Serve food to users who need it and help autonomous people in what they cannot do on their own.
• Administer medication by oral or topical route and provide specific care services under the supervision of the healthcare staff.
• Help patients change position with the help of the nursing staff.
• Help users in their movements and in the placement of assistive devices (prostheses, wheelchairs, walking frames, etc.).
• Check any incidents or symptoms which might affect users and share these with the multidisciplinary team if necessary.
• Look after the residents' relatives.
• Accompany users during their end-of-life process.

• Clean residents' personal items (toiletries, washbasins, etc.)
• Tidy up dirty clothes and organise its transportation to the laundry room.
• Collaborate in the cleaning and arrangement of rooms.
• Set the table, collect and distribute meals to dependent residents, whether in the dining room or bedrooms. Also serve meals to residents with special requirements outside regular meal schedules.
• Collaborate in the maintenance and control of stocks of materials (diapers, underwear, etc.).

• Boost users' motivation through participation in different activities (entertainment, rehabilitation and occupational therapy).
• Boost and exercise elderly and dependent people skills to slow their deterioration and foster their personal autonomy.
• Listen to users and detect any previously unidentified problems.
• Help users feel at home, in familiar settings.
• Encourage human, social and interpersonal contact between residents.

Regulated training and graduates

• Professionalism Certificate: Public healthcare for people in their homes (Level 2)
• Professionalism Certificate: Public healthcare for people in social institutions (Level 2)
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Social and Cultural Community Services - Intermediate Level: Care for dependent population
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Healthcare - Intermediate Level: Auxiliary Nursing Care
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Socio-cultural and Community Services - Advanced Level: Social Integration

Complementary training

Self-control: Level 2

Initiative: Level 2

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Empathy: Level 3

Flexibility and change management: Level 2

Healthcare

Working to maintain and improve health, as well as physical and mental well-being, is the primary interest of people who are involved in the field of healthcare. Some of the activities in this field include making diagnoses, prescribing treatments and monitoring illnesses and injuries. These activities also include the application of therapeutic treatments (traditional or alternative) with a view to facilitating the physical recovery of those being treated. To carry out these activities, one must have in-depth knowledge of the human body and medicine, in its various specialisations.

Social community worker

Individuals related to the social/community field have an interest in working to improve people's social well-being and quality of life, as well as enhance their integration into their social, family and/or work environment. The professional activities that are common in this field include providing special support and aid to people at risk of social exclusion, designing programmes and implementing resources for the social and cultural stimulation of an area, and acting as mediators for conflict resolution in family, social or interpersonal environments. These activities involve constant interaction with people in order to improve their psychological and social well-being.

Household worker

Personal assistant

Home Telecare

Technical of therapies with animals

House and facilities cleaning technician

• Work hours

  Usually full-time job. Due to the characteristics of this occupation, it is common to work on weekends and at night.

• Salary

  Estimated salaries range between 13.300 and 16.193 Euros gross per annum. Median: 14.525 euros annum gross.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Professional category

  Specialist staff