A rapid rise in the elderly population is seen in India, as life expectancy goes up. With the trend of nuclear families settling in, there is an upsurge in the demand for healthcare professionals capable of looking after senior citizens.
A Geriatric Care Assistant (GCA) is one such emerging healthcare profession that has come up in the healthcare space. The role of a GCA is that of a proficient & trained healthcare worker who provides care to senior citizens in hospitals, homes, and nursing care facilities.
This blog provides a detailed insight into the profession of a Geriatric Care Assistant. It talks about not only the duties and responsibilities but also provides information on who can apply, training required, expected salary, and the professional growth chances.
Who is a Geriatric Care Assistant?
A Geriatric Care Assistant is a healthcare professional who has undergone training and is capable of providing elderly individuals with physical, emotional, and other day-to-day living assistance under the guidance of doctors, nurses or healthcare teams. Their main aim is to enhance the quality of life, safety, and increase the independence of the senior citizens.
Where do these Geriatric Care Assistants work?
They usually work at:
- Hospitals
- Elderly/Old Age homes and assisted living facilities
- Rehabilitation centres
- Home healthcare services
- Hospice and palliative care facility
They offer the elderly patients assistance with their daily living activities, keep an eye on their health status and inform the doctors of any changes.
Importance of Geriatric Care - Need of the Hour
India is moving towards a demographic phase of an ageing population. Due to the increasing number of seniors with chronic diseases, mobility limitations, dementia, and the need for long- term care, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are going to require the services of trained caregivers who can identify with and help the elderly in their specific challenges that come with age.
Several initiatives have seen Indian institutions start to offer programs of specialized training in geriatrics to address the gap in the number of trained elderly caregivers and to enhance the senior care services more holistically.
What are the roles and responsibilities of a Geriatric Care Assistant?
A GCA is involved in providing supportive healthcare and also performing non-clinical caregiving tasks such as:
1. Daily Assistance
GCA may help with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene. Also helps with feeding and providing nutritional support. Along with these, GCA offers mobility support and ensures fall prevention, helping with exercise or rehabilitation activities.
2. Basic Healthcare Support
GCA ensures that the senior citizens stay in optimal health by
- Regularly taking and documenting vital signs.
- Noticing health condition changes.
- Ensuring patient safety.
- Adhering to infection control measures.
3. Emotional and Social Support
The Geriatric Care Assistant emotionally supports the elderly by:
- Being a companion.
- Motivating social interaction.
- Promoting mental health.
4. Environmental Care
- Keeping the patient's environment clean and safe.
- Assisting with light housekeeping in home environments.
By performing these tasks, elderly people are able to live with dignity and continue being independent even when they are receiving care.
What is the eligibility criterion to enrol in a program?
Eligibility criteria differ slightly between institutions but typically include:
- Minimum qualification: 10th or 12th pass.
- Minimum required age: 18 years (varies by institute).
- Keen interest in healthcare and elderly care.
- Basic/good communication skills.
Some courses accept students from any academic stream.
Most Geriatric Care Assistant programs are short-term skill courses aimed at quick employability.
- 4 to 6 months (with practical training).
- Some programs go up to 720 training hours.
What are the modules /topics for GCA training?
The training module may include:
- Basics of elderly care
- Special requirements of elderly patients
- Personal hygiene care
- Infection control
- Basic Life Support (BLS) and CPR
- Communication and counselling skills
- Biomedical waste management
- Safety and use of assistive devices
Different courses provide work experience training at hospitals or care homes for the elderly.
What is the Salary of a Geriatric Care Assistant in India?
Salary depends on work experience, place, and type of work. The approximate salaries are detailed below in a table:
| Experience | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | 1.8 lakh to 2.5 lakh per annum |
| Mid-level | 2.5 lakh to 3.5 lakh per annum |
| Skilled/Experienced | 5 lakh or more |
In home care settings, some may offer around Rs. 20,000 per month for a caregiver.
What is the scope for the future?
The skilled caregivers in the healthcare industry are one of those areas where any competent caretaker can expect a very promising raising of his/her career ladder.
Potential Career Advancement for a caregiver
Besides, the candidates can continue their education in:
- Dementia care
- Palliative care
- GDA, or general duty assistant
- Nursing or allied health programs
Due to the global population's aging, geriatric caregiving is turning into an expertise that would be valued in India and abroad.
Who all should opt for this career?
This course is suitable for:
- Students straight after Class 10 or 12 who want to build a career in healthcare.
- Those who can't do long medical degrees.
- People who are interested in caregiving or social services.
- Career switchers who are going into the healthcare sector.
- Applicants looking for rapid employment through skill training.
Summing up
Among other things, a Geriatric Care Assistant helps older people be physically, emotionally and socially healthy, which is a key element in the future of healthcare. As the elderly population keeps on increasing in India, caregivers who have gone through proper training are turning out to be an indispensable part of the medical team.
Highly important reasons to consider this profession include the fact that training is short, course fees are low, the demand for jobs is high, coupled with the added advantage of working in the healthcare sector. A career that is both meaningful and practical, and at the same time, you get to make a difference in people's lives.