Field experience and career opportunities in elderly care technician profession discussed

The "Sector Meetings I" event was organized by the Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS) Elderly Care Program and Home Patient Care Program. During the event, many topics were discussed, ranging from the duties and responsibilities of elderly care technicians to their field experiences, employment opportunities, and overseas career prospects. 

The moderators of the event, which took place at Üsküdar University Çarşı Campus, were Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk, Head of the Elderly Care Program, and Instructor Büşra Ecem Kumru, Head of the Home Patient Care Program. 

Emrah Gükçe, an Elderly Care Technician who is one of the first graduates of Kars Kafkas University's Elderly Care Department and works within the Presidency of Darülaceze, met with students at the event. Sharing his 12 years of field experience with the students, Gükçe explained the duties undertaken by elderly care technicians in different institutions, their working conditions, and the future of the profession.

Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk: "Our aim is for our students to get to know the field before graduation"

Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk, Head of the Elderly Care Program, who delivered the opening speech of the event, drew attention to the importance of students meeting experienced professionals from the sector before graduation. Şentürk stated; "Our aim is for our students to get to know the field before graduation. Theoretical education is important, but our students need to foresee the situations they might encounter in the field and be prepared for their professional lives. It is very valuable for professionals from the sector to share their experiences with our students, as it helps them develop their professional awareness." 

Emrah Gükçe: "Not exceeding your job description protects the patient's health"

Emrah Gükçe, an Elderly Care Technician, drawing attention to the boundaries of duties and authorities for elderly care technicians, informed students about acting in accordance with their job descriptions, based on his own experience when he started the profession. Gükçe stated that elderly care technicians undertake duties such as personal care, perineal care, positioning, and daily living activities in care centers and nursing homes, and continued:

"When I graduated from Kars Kafkas University in 2012, I thought I could perform all kinds of medical interventions because I came from a vocational school of health. However, when I started working in the field, I realized that as an elderly care technician, we do not have the authority for direct invasive interventions. In nursing homes and care centers, you undertake perineal care, personal care, positioning, and daily living activities. If you see a bed sore or redness, instead of directly intervening with dressing, you should immediately inform the nurse and doctor. Not exceeding your job description protects both the patient's health and your professional responsibility."

"The need for the profession is increasing day by day"

Gükçe, drawing attention to Türkiye's aging population structure and employment opportunities in elderly care, stated; "Looking at World Health Organization data and current demographic analyses, Türkiye is among the rapidly aging countries like Germany. This situation increases the need for trained and specialized elderly care technicians day by day. In addition to public sector recruitments, there are also various employment opportunities in the private sector and in individual home care services."

Gükçe, also referring to employment opportunities in public sector recruitments and the private sector, stated that individual home care services also constitute an important work area for experienced employees.

"Patience is your greatest medicine"

Gükçe, touching upon the challenges that may be encountered in care centers and the precautions to be taken against infectious diseases, said; "When working with Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Parkinson's patients in care centers, patience is your greatest medicine. When encountering infectious diseases, it is necessary to strictly adhere to gown, mask, and isolation protocols. You cannot bear this burden alone; teamwork in the public sector saves lives against the heavy workload in the private sector. You should continuously update yourself and support your education with a second university degree or additional specializations."

Gükçe, also drawing attention to the continuity of professional development, emphasized the importance of students updating themselves and supporting their education with different fields.

"You get tired, but the spiritual satisfaction is indescribable"

Gükçe, drawing attention to the spiritual satisfaction provided by elderly care technician profession, in addition to its difficulties, stated; "There will be times when you struggle and reach the point of giving up. However, helping those elderly people, being their only support in life, and meeting their needs provides you with great spiritual satisfaction beyond a professional duty. That spiritual satisfaction is indescribable. This profession is truly very valuable when performed with patience and love." 

At the end of the program, Elderly Care Technician Emrah Gükçe was presented with a certificate of appreciation for his contributions and the experiences he shared with the students. 

The event concluded after a group photo was taken with the students.