How to become an elderly caregiver: skills, certificates, ways of working and your first family

Elderly care is meaningful work that is increasingly in demand: helping someone carry on their daily life safely and with dignity. According to the World Health Organization, by 2030, 1 in 6 people in the world will be aged 60 years or over. In Türkiye too, the older population is growing fast, and so is demand for experienced, trustworthy caregivers. This guide is for people thinking of starting in this work and for caregivers who want their experience to be more visible.

What does an elderly caregiver do?

• Companionship and social support: conversation, walks, activities, making sure they are not left alone.
• Help with daily living: preparing meals, help with eating, keeping the home tidy, shopping.
• Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting, skin and mouth care.
• Mobility support: getting out of bed, transfers, walking alongside, preventing falls.
• Monitoring and communication: medication reminders, passing observations to the family, accompanying them to appointments.

Medical procedures such as injections, IV drips, wound dressings and catheters are the job of a nurse or other qualified health professional. Being clear from the outset about tasks outside your training and competence protects both you and the person you care for.

Ways of working

• Live-out (daytime): coming and going at set hours; suits people who want to return to their own home.
• Live-in: staying in the care recipient’s home; rest hours, days off and personal space must be agreed in advance.
• Hourly / part-time: short periods of support such as companionship, shopping or accompanying them to appointments.
• Hospital companion: staying with the patient during a hospital stay.
• Night care: for people who wake often at night; agree which hours you can sleep and which you must stay awake.

Which skills make a difference?

• Patience and empathy: conditions such as dementia bring repeated questions and sudden mood changes.
• Knowledge of safe transfers and fall prevention.
• Observation and reporting: notes like “Ate less today, coughed twice, restless in the evening” are very valuable to families.
• Basic knowledge of common conditions such as dementia, stroke and diabetes.
• Basic first aid and calling your local emergency number (112 in Türkiye and across the EU) with the right information.
• Privacy and confidentiality: what you see and hear in the home stays private.

Certificates and training

In Türkiye, Public Education Centres (Halk Eğitim Merkezleri) and Ministry of Education (MEB) approved institutions run courses in patient and elderly care. Length, fees and entry requirements vary by institution and term; for current information, contact the centre in your province or the e-Yaygın system. Elsewhere, look for accredited care qualifications through local colleges, care providers or your local authority. A certificate reassures families but is not the only measure: a concrete account of your experience, references and a good interview count just as much. First aid training is also very valuable for every caregiver.

Documents to prepare

• Proof of identity
• Certificates and training documents, if any
• A criminal record certificate (in Türkiye, available through e-Devlet; elsewhere, the local equivalent such as a police or background check). Not always mandatory, but it markedly increases trust.
• Contact details for referees who know they may be contacted and have agreed to it
• A short list of previous jobs: dates, the care recipient’s needs and your duties

Discussing pay and working conditions

When discussing pay, be clear whether it is hourly or monthly, and how extra hours, night support, days off, travel and meals are covered. Talk openly with the family about social security and legal obligations; our guide on the subject can help. Putting the agreed task list and working hours in writing prevents disagreements later.

Protecting yourself

• Hold the first meeting by video or somewhere safe if possible; tell someone close to you the address and who you are meeting.
• For live-in work, agree your rest hours and days off in writing.
• Ask for equipment or a second person for heavy lifting; your back is your livelihood.
• Do not neglect your own breaks and health; caregivers burn out too.

How to join WellFamily

WellFamily connects families with verified caregivers and doctors. Caregiver pre-registration is free. In your profile you share your experience, skills, languages, the areas you can work in and your expected pay; profiles that pass identity and document checks receive a verification badge. No commission is taken from the pay you agree with the family. To strengthen your profile, see our checklist “The caregiver profile families choose”.