With heart and dedication: Why am I doing the home help training part-time?

My alarm clock rings early, much earlier than others. It's the start of a day that not only means work, but also care and responsibility. I am Sigrid and I care for my parents at home while working as a freelance copywriter. It's a challenge that I take on every day - but it requires strength, organizational skills and, above all, patience. Sometimes it feels like there are never enough hours in the day. But despite the exhaustion and the many demands in my Everyday Care there are also moments of fulfillment that motivate me again and again.

The morning: grooming before work

My day starts as soon as I get up with a quick coffee and a short morning routine. Then I go to my parents, who live next door, and I help them get ready for the day. Getting dressed, personal hygiene or taking medication - there are lots of little tasks that ensure they get through the day well. Sometimes it's not just physical support that they need, but the familiar closeness and a reassuring word. A fixed daily structure with the same routines is particularly important for my father, who has dementia, as it gives him security and orientation. The slightest deviation can quickly unsettle him and confuse him even more. This also includes the daily delivery of the newspaper and if this is forgotten again, chaos is inevitable. So I have to drive out quickly and get him the newspaper from the nearest tobacconist to bring his day back into balance and give him the feeling that everything is as it should be.

After morning care, it's time to get ready for my work. The big advantage of my job is that I can do it from home. This means I'm always on hand if my parents need me at short notice - and that happens more and more often as I get older.

Daily brain training: strengthen existing good

After lunch, we regularly have a little memory training session on the program. It's a way of counteracting the mental decline caused by dementia and strengthening my father's existing abilities. I take a photo from our family albums and ask him about the person in it. I hope that this will help him to remember his children and grandchildren and keep the connection to us alive.

These short exercises are designed to boost cognitive performance by activating the brain and bringing it out of rest mode. The aim is not to achieve great progress, nor is it possible to cure dementia. But the training can help to promote concentration and at least slow down memory loss a little.

The important thing is to keep the frame small. We don't practise for longer than ten minutes because that would quickly overwhelm him. I make sure I stay patient, even if he's having a bad day and doesn't recognize anyone. It is much more important to praise him when he remembers something. These moments of success give him self-confidence and sometimes even put a smile on his face.

Memory training is not just an exercise for us, but also an opportunity to spend time together and relive fond memories - a small, valuable routine in our everyday lives.

Evening rituals against insomnia: A way to more rest

My father often suffers from insomnia, which not only significantly affects his own sleep, but also that of my mother. At night, he wanders restlessly around the apartment as he finds it difficult to rest. One of the main causes of this is the changes to his brain caused by the breakdown of nerve cells in dementia. These changes disrupt his natural day-sleep rhythm. To counteract this restlessness at night, we have started to introduce fixed routines. A structured evening routine gives him orientation and helps his body to adjust better to the night. A calm, consistent routine - such as dinner together, a short walk followed by soft music or flicking through a photo album - often has a calming effect on him. Of course, it's a process that requires patience, but every little bit of progress shows me how valuable such routines are for him.

The challenges of the balancing act: Reconciling work and care

The Everyday-Work is challenging enough on its own. But when you have to take care of parents on top of the demands of a job, the day can often become a constant burden. In this dual role, I realize again and again how important it is to be well organized. But there are also moments when I reach my limits. It's not just the physical exhaustion that plagues me, but also the constant worry about my parents' well-being. Then there are unforeseen events: A sudden visit to the doctor or an unexpected health disruption - to which I always have to react flexibly.

The bright spots of small moments make up for everything

It's the little things that show me why I do all this. When my father smiles contentedly after dinner and all is right with the world for a moment, I realize that all the effort is worth it.

Sometimes he sits in his armchair, looks out of the window and talks about the past. Not everything he says is always true - sometimes memories and fantasies get mixed up. But that doesn't bother me. But when he suddenly becomes clearer for a moment and remembers a special day from my childhood, it's a gift. It shows me that a part of him is still in there, even if the dementia has changed him a lot.

It is also the feeling of being able to give something back to my parents that drives me. My father and mother have looked after me all their lives, giving everything for me so that I want for nothing. Now that they need me, I want to give them something back and be there for them.

Of course, there are challenges. The repetition, the many questions, the anxiety and confusion, all of that can be exhausting. But it's the little rays of hope that keep me going. Those moments when he is happy and I get a piece of him back are priceless.

My wish: More support for family caregivers

If I could change anything, it would be the support and Appreciation in care for people like me. The domestic Elderly Care is often taken for granted, but it is not. We family caregivers need more relief - be it through professional care advice or support. I know that I am not the only one going down this path. And I hope that we as a society do more to enable people like my parents to live a valuable life.

How could a Home help training part-time help me?

As a family caregiver, I face many challenges every day. Especially in those moments when I feel exhausted and overwhelmed, I ask myself how I can cope even better with everyday life. At such times, I realize more and more how valuable it would be to have a qualified home help at my side - someone who can support me with their specialist knowledge and care expertise and help me share the responsibility.

However, instead of immediately seeking outside support, I am increasingly thinking about learning more myself. In-service home help training could be just the key to helping me better support myself in both caregiving and self-care.

The Caring for loved ones, especially of a parent with dementia, can be very complex and challenging. It's not just about meeting physical needs, but also about dealing with emotional and psychological stress. Home help training would help me to learn the skills I need to provide the best possible care while not neglecting my personal well-being.

Home help training benefits? A profession with heart and purpose

Home helpers support people with their activities of daily living. These are usually people who are dependent on help in their everyday lives - whether due to age, illness or disability. This care service ranges from support in the household to help with personal hygiene and small errands. With this Personal care is not just about practical help, but also about interpersonal closeness and empathy. For many, this work is an incredibly fulfilling task. Not only do you create real added value for others, but you also experience every day how grateful people are for your support.

Careers in nursing: strengthening nursing competence and practical skills

In a home help training course, you learn important basics that go beyond Personal care for people in need of care. Topics such as the correct handling of dementia, pain management or the correct use of aids are just some of the areas that would help me enormously as a carer. By acquiring this knowledge, I could specifically address the needs and nursing to better recognize and respond to my parents.

Emotional support and self-care

As a family caregiver, it's easy to forget about your own needs. However, home help training would not only teach me technical skills, but also the importance of self-care. I would learn how to cope better with emotional stress without overwhelming myself. I could also learn how to bring more relief into my everyday life through structured care routines.

Home help training for family caregivers: Practical application in my everyday life

The advantage of on-the-job training is that I can immediately put my newly acquired skills into practice. I could use what I have learned directly in my dealings with my parents and gradually increase my confidence in caring tasks. I would also be able to better involve my family in the day-to-day care routine, as I would have more confidence and knowledge as a better-trained carer.

Flexible nursing education programs 

Caring for my parents is a daily challenge, so it is important to me that home help training is offered on a part-time basis. This would allow me to learn at my own pace without having to give up my responsibilities as a caregiver. Flexible course models that combine online learning with practical sessions would allow me to expand my knowledge step by step while still having enough time to care for my parents.

Home help training part-time-A win for the whole family

The decision to train as a home help would not only benefit me, but also my family. Because with my expanded knowledge, I would be able to organize the care of my parents even better and thus bring more calm and structure into our everyday lives. At the same time, I would feel less alone because the training would give me support from experts and other course participants. This would be a huge relief, especially in those moments when I feel burnt out or insecure. I am convinced that this training will not only benefit my parents, but will bring us closer together as a family and make caring for them in our everyday lives noticeably easier.

Procedure of the in-service home help training

The in-service home help training is offered by many institutions and educational institutes. The exact structure may vary depending on the provider, but you can generally expect the following content:

1. Costs and duration of the course 

The training usually takes between 3 and 6 months, depending on how many hours per week you can invest. The costs for part-time home help training  can vary, depending on the provider and the region. As a rule, the fees are between 500 and 2,500 euros. Some organizations also offer free training, especially if it comes with a subsequent commitment to work. Additional costs may be incurred for teaching materials, examination fees or compulsory internships. It is worth looking into funding options, such as grants from the Public Employment Service (AMS) or regional education grants, to reduce the financial burden.

2. What do you learn in the home help training program?

You will receive sound preparation for your tasks, both in theoretical and practical terms. Some training programs allow for part-time or part-time training. This extends the duration of training, which is particularly advantageous for people with family commitments or professional activities. The theory modules will teach you the basics of care, hygiene regulations, communication with customers and the legal framework.

An important part of elderly care is practical training working in a care facility or other inpatient setting in the mobile service. You will help elderly and sick people with their daily tasks, learn how to use medical aids properly and develop a sensitive feeling for their individual needs. These skills are invaluable, especially for providing empathetic care and Care in the home environment.Here you will gain valuable experience in dealing with customers and the typical tasks of a home help.

3. Conclusion

At the end of the training, an examination consisting of a theoretical and a practical part must be taken.

Prerequisites: How to become a home help 

The requirements of nursing training are manageable, so that training is possible for many people. The basic requirements are usually:

§  minimum age of 18 years

§  Good knowledge of German (mostly B1 level)

§  Interested in healthcare and nursing  working with people

§  Clear criminal record (certificate of good conduct)

§ Health suitability

§  Experience in the social sector is an advantage, but not mandatory

Further education and career opportunities of a Heimhilfe Ausbildung OÖ

Completing a home help training course opens up many career opportunities. Home helpers are in high demand in both mobile care services and inpatient facilities. But that's just the beginning!

If you are in nursing want to progress, then there are numerous further training courses open to you, such as nursing assistant or certified healthcare and nursing assistant. Part-time training is therefore not only an entry into geriatric nursing, but can also be a springboard for your professional future.

Make at https://www.caritas-wien.at/jobs-bildung/ausbildung/heimhilfe take the first step and discover what a career in care can be like - maybe home help training is just the right path for you!

Why it's worth investing in home help training while working

As you can see from this example, it is often difficult for family caregivers to find the balance between care and self-care. A Nursing could help Sigrid care for her parents with more knowledge, confidence and structure. She would be equipped with practical skills that would not only make her parents' everyday lives easier, but also her own.

The part-time training enables her to continue her education without giving up her nursing work and offers her the flexibility she urgently needs in her everyday life.