Barcelona City Council | Capital humà

The dependent people carers carry out activities aimed at helping patients who are getting old and suffer from some kind of dementia retain their functional, psychological and social self-sufficiency.

Dementia is an organic, clinical syndrome characterised by an acquired decrease, usually gradual and progressive, of intellectual functions (memory, time-space orientation,behaviour, language, etc.) which interferes with the social activities of the person, without however altering their state of consciousness. The purpose of this professional profile is to reduce disabilities using preventative, welfare and rehabilitation measures.

• Prepare, implement and assess activities aimed at promoting patient autonomy and delaying the progress of associated impairments (physical, - fractures, arthrosis, etc.-; sensory - visual acuity, hearing impairment etc.-; mental - anxiety, insomnia, etc.-, and social - deficit of socialisation -diminished social abilities).
  Exercise the episodic, semantic and behavioural memory of the patient (to counteract memory loss).
  Carry out exercises involving voluntary movements (to counteract apraxia).
  Stimulate speaking and communication skills through language (to counteract aphasia).
  Encourage the recognition of objects (to counteract agnosia).
  Care for patients with personality and behavioural disorders (erratic wandering, disorientation in time and space, aggressiveness, incontinence, etc.).
  Exercise patients' capacity for abstract thought and their attention span.
  
• Optimise the patients' exogenous factors (living conditions, etc.)
  Help patients orient themselves in their physical and social environment, avoiding change.
  Give advice on personal safety conditions in physical surroundings (accident prevention, etc.)
  Monitor patient nutrition (habits, fluid intake, varied and balanced diet, rich in protein and fibre, moderate alcohol consumption, etc.)
  
• Participate in the basic differential diagnosis and follow up the progress of dementia, the process and degree of dependence of the patient.
  Assess the physical and mental condition of the patient and identify clinical symptoms.
  In charge of controlling risk factors (cardiovascular, etc.) and, in the event of drug therapy, supervise the administration of medication.
  Provide patients with the necessary information regarding the disorder suffered.
  If applicable, refer the patient to other professionals.
  
• Provide guidance and support to the relatives of the patient or those closest to him/her.
  Explain the illness, its progress and complications to the family of the patient, as well as its emotional consequences.
  Involve the family in the treatment.
  Advise the family regarding available resources and basic legal aspects (statement of disability, financial support applications, driving licence withdrawal, etc.).
  Encourage relatives to participate in self-help group meetings.
  
• Coordinate available services and resources, whether personal, family-oriented, social (family workers, daycare centres, self-help groups, volunteers, etc.) or healthcare-related (primary care, daytime hospital care, public health resources).

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 Healthcare - Intermediate Level: Auxiliary Nursing Care
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Social and Cultural Community Services - Intermediate Level: Care for dependent population
• Grau: Infermeria
• Grau: Fisioteràpia
• Grau: Psicologia
• Grau: Teràpia ocupacional
• Grau: Educació social
• Grau: Treball social

Complementary training

Self-control: Level 2

Analytical thought: Level 2

Initiative: Level 2

Empathy: Level 3

Communication: Level 2

Flexibility and change management: Level 2

Customer orientation: Level 2

Conceptual thought: Level 1

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.

End-of-life caregiver

Home Telecare

Technical of therapies with animals

Family worker

Geriatric caregiver

• Work hours

  The typical working day is full-time, although there is a considerable volume of part-time work.

• Salary

  Salaries range between 13,300 and 27,000 Euros gross per annum.