Looking after the elderly is something that requires all sorts of skills, with professionals providing assistance to the elderly in overcoming a variety of everyday challenges. Aged care courses online will give you the knowledge required for the role, but you also have to ask yourself the question - do I have the necessary attributes to succeed?
If you do, it can be one of the most stimulating and rewarding careers around, as you make a massive difference in people’s lives each and every day. A value can’t be put on the joy, hope and improved perspective that those working with the elderly bring to those in their care, so if it’s a vocation with meaning you’re looking for, it certainly fits the bill.
Responsibility & Organisation
As you’ll learn in aged care courses online, caring for the elderly takes a lot of organisation. Knowing precisely when certain tasks need to be done, like providing medication, personal hygiene, doctor’s appointments, and meal times, are central to the wellbeing of the person you’re looking after, so you’ll need a tight grip on things.
As well as being super-organised, you need to have a responsible nature, understanding that the person in your care relies on you to live everyday life. Fail to demonstrate either of these two qualities, and it’s the patient who will ultimately suffer.
A Caring Nature
Another critical attribute all aged care professionals need is a caring nature. Now, there’s a difference between providing care and caring. To provide care describes an act, whereas caring about someone means actually caring that the person you’re looking after is comfortable and content.
An attitude like this will often shine through to the elderly person you’re working with, giving them the peace of mind of knowing that someone not just cares for them but cares about them too. If you’re not caring in your approach and you make them feel like a burden, you’ll only make that person feel worse.
Patient & Respectful
Something that aged care courses online can’t teach you are the values of being both patient and respectful to the people you care for. Most people of a certain age were brought up to respect their elders. However, you might be surprised about just how many don’t care much for the opinions of ‘old people'. In this role, however, it’s of paramount importance.
Alongside supreme patience, aged care workers need to value the thoughts and feelings of elderly people just as much as they would with anyone else. It could be as simple as having a proper conversation with them or caring enough to ask them about their extended family, but it’s a virtue that those in the industry simply can’t do without.
Video-Based Aged Care Courses Online From OCA
Being an aged care worker is something of a multi-faceted role, so those in the position need to have the personal traits we’ve mentioned and more besides. So, if you feel like working with the elderly is for you, we’re pleased to be able to tell you that the easiest and most flexible way to learn the necessary skills and knowledge is with aged care courses from OCA.
Every option in our range of aged care, counselling and community courses is not only CPD-approved but also comes with one on one tutor support. All of our courses follow the micro-learning model and are video-based, too, meaning that each 5-minute module is easy to digest and fits around your current work and life obligations. You can find more out about this and more by visiting us at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au.
Alternatively, if you would like to speak to one of our friendly advisors before signing up for our aged care courses online, call us today on 1300 611 404, and we'll be more than happy to assist.
