Care for you - improving soft skills of seniors' caregivers

<< Background >>The societies of many European countries are aging, there is no doubt about this at present. At the same time, family ties are greatly loosened. As a result, the demand for paid care for the elderly increases. Main needs behind the project was the needs of carers of the elderly and people who want to work in this profession. The project was definitely a response to their needs and will contribute to development of their skills (other than strictly professional ones) and help them to be better in their profession. For people thinking about working as seniors caregivers, project is valuable source of information helping them to make responsible decision.Also needs of seniors were motivation to prepare project. Seniors just need caregivers with a high level of soft skills so that to better meet the needs of the people they care for. Needs of partner organizations•the need to expand the experience in the field of international cooperation with partners from different countries and cultures.•the need to establish new contacts << Objectives >>The main goal of the project was to increase the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the profession of caregiver for seniors, as well as to increase the interest of young people in this profession, by developing a number of training and information materials targeted at young people and training organizations in various EU countries. Detailed objectives: •Providing young people who want to work as a caregiver for seniors or who work in this profession with tools enabling them to improve skills useful at work as a carer for seniors •increasing the efficiency and attractiveness of educating caregivers of seniors by indicating good practices in the field of non-standard methods of education and training of carers of seniors•increasing the awareness of young people about the education path and formal requirements regarding work for a caregiver of seniors in various EU countries •increasing awareness about importance of high level of soft skills in work of seniors' caregiver<< Implementation >>The most important activities in brief:1.Preparation of informative publication. Including•Division of tasks•Preparation of selected part of publication•Putting whole text together – by leading expert•Assessment of publication by experts•Uploading publication at the website2.Preparation a set of course materials dedicated to people who work or would wish to work as seniors’ caregivers. That included:•Development of a list of questions that were included in the tests measuring the level of skills before and after the completion of the prepared courses•Preparation of the final version of the questions and feedback for the people who will use the tests. •Preparation by package leader the template for the webinar scenario and the sample text for the course. •Division of work between experts•Preparation of selected courses (videos plus text materials)•Testing materials with 10 people in each country•Preparation of final version of courses•Translation of materials into partners languages•Uploading courses on the website3.Preparation of interactive map. Including•Division of work (number of countries)•Preparation of template of information sheet according which each expert prepared information•Preparation of information about given countries•Uploading all information at the website in form of interactive map•Testing the map with representatives of end users As part of the project activities, it was planned to develop 3 main intellectual outputs: • O1 – publication containing information about profession of caregivers. • O2 A set of training materials supporting the development of soft skills of people who want to work or work as carers of the elderly. • O3 – interactive map containing most important practical information about work of seniors’ caregivers in different EU countries.Results are available at - https://www.care4youproject.eu/<< Results >>it was planned to develop 3 main intellectual outputs: • O1 – publication containing information about profession of caregivers. • O2 A set of training materials supporting the development of soft skills of people who want to work or work as carers of the elderly. • O3 – interactive map containing most important practical information about work of seniors’ caregivers in different EU countries.Results are available at - https://www.care4youproject.eu/Apart from the quantifiable results, project should contribute to: •Change attitudes both training institutions offering training for seniors’ caregivers as well as seniors’ caregivers themselves - about importance of having high level of soft skills while working with seniors •increasing professionalism in the performance of professional duties by caregivers of seniors thanks to the possibility of improving their soft skills •increasing the professional mobility of caregivers of seniors by gaining access to information on the formal requirements and working conditions of a caregiver of seniors in various EU countries •increasing the standards of care for seniors thanks to the greater soft skills of the caregivers •making the training offer for carers of seniors more attractive and valuable by adding elements dedicated to shaping soft competences