Elderly care professional
Elderly care professionals are specialists in diverse fields of senior and elderly care, and their work is based on supporting the wellbeing and functional ability of the elderly and improving their health. Elderly care professionals are required to have an interest in health, social services and physical exercise. Elderly care professionals can plan, develop, coordinate and provide services for the elderly or provide services independently.
Retirement homes, sheltered housing, nursing homes, home care, organisations.
Elderly care professionals require competence in various methods that improve health and the functional ability in elderly care and the ability to assess the need for support. Key competence also includes multidisciplinary cooperation, guidance skills and knowledge of various service systems. Knowledge of various ways to support engagement is also an advantage.
Elderly care professionals require good cooperation and negotiation skills, as they work with social services and healthcare, as well as family members. Guidance, listening and motivating are also an important part of work.
As elderly care professionals have a multidisciplinary theoretical background, skills in finding and applying information are required. Monitoring the general development of the sector is important for success in the job.
A bachelor’s degree in gerontology can be completed at universities of applied sciences.
At universities, gerontology can be studied in the master’s degree programme in gerontology and national health (master of health sciences) or as part of degree programmes in health sciences, national health and nursing.
The position of an elderly care professional is part of the social welfare register. The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) grants, based on an application, the right to work as an authorised elderly care professional for persons who have completed an applicable academic degree in Finland.
Median salary
2880 €/mo
Private sector
2858 €/mo
Public sector
2890 €/mo
The data is based on the median income, meaning the amount of salary which is the middle of the salary amounts arranged in order of magnitude.
Source: Statistics Finland's structural statistics on wages and salaries