What you might not expect when working in aged care.
Working in aged care, is it expected that you will work with the elderly. What you may have been less prepared for it that there are younger individuals requiring care too, sometimes in the same facilities, due to living with a disability.
Gaining qualifications in an industry with the name ‘aged care’, caring for young Australians in aged care facilities can be surprising.
Young Australians in aged care facilities
A Senate inquiry in 2015 found that upward of 7,000 individuals under the age of 65 with physical and intellectual disabilities are living in aged care facilities. This is significantly younger than the average age of aged care residents, which is around 84-years old.
Various government measures and organisations are continually working toward remedying this and finding more appropriate assisted living arrangements for these young Australians in aged care.
Once qualified to work in aged care, you are able to work in an aged care facility, working in a range of potential roles, including a personal care worker. Caring for someone with a disability often requires different approaches than working with someone in aged care, with a range of disabilities to take into consideration, varying from young to older clients.
Just a few of these are:
- Acquired brain injuries
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down Syndrome
- Dementia
- Various physical disabilities
In providing care that goes well beyond compliance, Royal College of Healthcare ensures that the units delivered to our students give them the knowledge and skills to provide the highest quality support based on the specific needs of the individual in your care. Many younger individuals in your care may particularly benefit from you promoting their independence and recognising and supporting their youth and associated interests.
Caring for young Australians in aged care can be surprising and even confronting, but also incredibly rewarding.
More information on aged care and disability courses can be found at https://royalcollege.edu.au/
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