Working in aged care means having a secure and fulfilling career. Whether you’re looking for your first job, a career change, getting back into the workforce, or just looking for a reminder, this article’s for you. We’ll give you a brief introduction to aged care work and the benefits of working in this industry.

In this article:

• What is aged care?

• Who is aged care for?

• What are the responsibilities of aged care workers?

• What are the benefits of working in aged care?

What is aged care?

Aged care is a service that provides the elderly with the support they need to live their lives as normally as possible. Examples of these services include cooking, cleaning, and administering medicine either from a person’s own house or in an aged care facility.

Seniors in Australia and New Zealand have the choice of accessing aged care from the government or private services.

Who is aged care for?

In Australia and New Zealand, seniors don’t necessarily have to meet a specific age to qualify for government-funded aged care. Instead, they are eligible for aged care based on their need for it. But in general, people aged 65 years and above are considered seniors who are often immediately qualified for aged care.

What are the responsibilities of aged care workers?

Aged care workers have a ton of responsibilities. A sample rundown of tasks any aged care professional is expected to do are:

• Accompanying seniors as they do their day-to-day tasks

• Helping the elderly move around

• Preparing meals and dispensing medicine

• Accomplish housekeeping tasks like dusting, laundry, etc.

• Assisting seniors with personal hygiene (e.g., bathing, shaving, dressing)

• Providing companionship and emotional support

• Running personal errands (e.g., shopping, mail delivery, grocery)

What are the benefits of working in aged care?

Here are the five key benefits of working in aged care:

1. Growing job opportunities

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare noted that 1.2 million people received aged care services from 2017 to 2018 alone. As the country’s population aged 65 and over will continue to rise in the coming years, the government is working to align the demand for aged care services. This means your chances of finding a job as an aged care worker are high.

According to SEEK, here are the things you’ll need to become an aged care worker:

• Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing), or a

• Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home & Community)

• Training and first-hand experience at an aged care facility

• First aid certification

2. Rewarding career options

Working in the aged care industry is not a one-track career. As an aged care worker, you can choose to tailor your career in a variety of fulfilling ways. Some different career paths may include:

• Personal care: You’ll work under private care providers and will be tasked to assist the elderly in their daily tasks in their own homes

• Residential care: You’ll be stationed in residential care or nursing homes and will look after the elderly who stay there

• Respite care: You’ll step in for a primary caregiver who needs to take a break from their current duties

• Community care: You’ll provide social, physical, and emotional support to the elderly in your community

3. Never-ending learning opportunities

As an aged care worker, you’ll be with many people from all walks of life. Not only can you collaborate with your fellow aged care workers from who you can learn a ton, including knowledge, skills, and perspectives that will help you do better at work, but you’ll also be very involved in the lives of those you care for—the elderly. We all have a story; what better way to learn about the world than from those who were able to live it! You may be surprised at the things you can learn from those around you.

4. Building fulfilling relationships

Working with people is a trademark of being an aged care worker. There’s no doubt that you’ll be learning a wealth of information from your coworkers and clients. More than anything, being involved in your colleagues and clients’ lives means you’ll develop a close and meaningful relationship with them, too. These relationships will make your career and life even more fulfilling, motivating you to do that much better in your job.

5. Making a lasting impact

When you start your career in aged care, it’s not uncommon to think that the position is just a job. There’s nothing wrong with this, but as you work longer in this industry, you’ll come to realise that your job makes a positive difference in people’s lives. In fact, at the core of being an aged care worker is to improve the lives of others.

At Tunstall Healthcare, we offer various Connected Healthcare solutions, such as personal alarms, fall detectors and epilepsy sensor, that empower our care partners to deliver the best aged care services possible. Enquire about our solutions today to start making a difference.