Completion requirements
Good practices
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The aging process leads to an increase in the need for caregivers, who may come from the family nucleus and / or society as a profession.
Educational Resources
Caregivers are essential to guarantee and maintain assistance to an elderly population with higher levels of vulnerability and fragility.
Informal caregivers
- Responsibilities
- Personal care
- Performing tasks of daily living concomitantly with other activities
- General health care
- Companionship and emotional support
- Being a caregiver
- Provide care for a spouse, family member, friend or neighbor
- Very demanding, and might lead to physical strain, fatigue or stress
- Needs
- Caregivers report insufficient preparation for an adequate care for the dependent person
- Negotiate roles with family members - care options
- Present and future
- caregiving is fundamental for the society and integral to the health and well-being
- adults need to be educated about the likelihood of becoming a caregiver and a care recipient
Formal caregivers
- Formal caregiver -> worker related with a formal service system, whether a paid worker or a volunteer
- Formal care: organised into 3 categories:
- home-based care
- community-based care
- residential care
- What do caregivers do?
- concept of "caregiving career"
- formal caregivers are trained
- Different factors influence the use of formal resources
- marital and economic status
- geographic location
- age and education
- Characteristics
- empathy
- job or career-based knowledge
- problem-solving skills
- adapt to a patient's needs
- Present and future
- complex service provision to meet the needs of individuals
- policies and programs - strengthen the ability of formal service
Key considerations
👥
Who
Population of caregivers: family and professional.
📝
Obstacles
Lack of access to educational resources and good practices.
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Solutions
Overcome this gap 🡪 platforms of educational resources (online / free access).
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Considerations
Inability to distribute across territories (multiple asymmetries).
Variability in Senior Care
Most dependent elderly people are usually cared for by informal caregivers (family, friends, neighbors)This care is often a source of enormous psychological, physical and even social exclusion pressure;
These characteristics are extensible to professional caregivers;
Often adding the lack of correct training as well as a support structure for an optimized performance of their functions;
Tools and resources
Training and understanding of the needs of informal and professional caregivers
Build a quality base in care and care for the elderly
Basis for building a profession
Disseminate standardised training without geographical constraints
"Education is essential to build a quality base in care and care for the elderly."
Where can you find them?
MOOCS: These courses – MOOCs - allow to increase the literacy on the role and the function of the caregiver and to facilitate the access to a continuous, structured learning based on reliable and updated information.
Suggested courses
01. Introduction to basic, social and ICT skills for caregivers
I CARE MOOC: Consists of Videos, Presentations / Reading material, Assignments / Activities / Exercises / Self-evaluation quizzes, Web links
Language
English, Greek,
French, Italian
Access
Free & Self-paced
Certificate
Attendance Certificate
Formal and informal caregivers
⏱️
Time Commitment
approx. 40 hours total - Recommended: 4-6 hours per week over 8 weeks
02. Supporting families and caregivers
Palliative care for beginners. Provides caregiver support, psychological support and child guidance. Provided through the Class Central platform
Language
English
Access
Possible to attend for free
Certificate
Completion Certificate
Requires payment
⏱️
Time Commitment
approx. 11 hours total - Recommended: 2-3 hours per week over 4 weeks
03. Caring for the elderly
Objectives: Understand the health, communication and management strategies necessary for geriatric performance.
Material: Videos; Presentations/Reading material; Exercises/Self-evaluation quizzes, Web links;
Benefits: Offer and guarantee the care and personal development of the elderly, to the best of their abilities.
Language
Spanish
Access
Free
Certificate
Attendance Certificate
⏱️
Time Commitment
approx. 10 hours total - Recommended: 4-6 hours per week over 2 weeks
04. Being a Caregiver in the pandemic due to COVID-19: care in the home context
Enable caregivers to provide better informal care and prevent infection by SARS-CoV-2
Language
Portruguese
Access
Free (and with evaluation)
Certificate
Attendance Certificate
⏱️
Time Commitment
approx. 1,5 hours total - Recommended: 2 hours per week over 1 week
05. Ageing and disability: Transitions into residential care
Aims: Role of social workers and care staff in supporting individuals through the transition;
Benefits: Recognize key factors - experience and manage transitions, Identify elements of good practice, Identity, strengths and autonomy.
Language
English
Access
Free & Self-paced
Certificate
Attendance Certificate
⏱️
Time Commitment
approx. 11 hours total - Recommended: 4-6 hours per week over 2 weeks
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Reflection & Discussion
What skill level is necessary to provide the best care for the individual at home?
What are the qualifications of the people in giving care?
Last modified: Sunday, 19 October 2025, 2:25 PM