It’s no secret that medical assistants make positive impacts on the patients they serve every day. This is especially true for those who have chosen a career in medical elder care. Senior citizens face unique challenges compared to other segments of the population, and whether they’re living in a senior living community or at home, the medical assistants they work with become an integral part of their lives. Here, Prism Career Institute takes a look at how medical assistants can change the lives of the elderly for the better.
Providing Much Needed Assistance
For any medical assistant, it’s a humbling experience to be able to provide patients with the care and support they need. It’s even more fulfilling when tending to the elderly, as they rely on this kind of assistance more than the average patient. Plus, the seniors you work with will be eternally grateful when you help them with the daily struggles they face, which makes medical elder care even more rewarding. If you’re considering this career path, you can expect to perform tasks such as:
- Checking vital signs
- Administering medications
- Supporting patients’ emotional and mental health
- Arranging medical appointments for exams and tests
- Helping patients in being transported to the hospital or doctor’s office
- Reading and explaining information about their conditions, upcoming procedures, and more
- Assisting with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming, eating, walking, etc.
Monitoring Their Conditions
As a constant presence in their lives, medical assistants are also tasked with monitoring the conditions of the seniors under their care. As many older adults live with multiple health issues, you’re the member of their medical team that can visit most often and identify a worsening problem before it becomes detrimental to their quality of life. For instance, if their mobility is decreasing, you can recommend a cane, walker, or other medical devices to assist them and prevent falls and broken bones.
Becoming an Extended Family Member
Though expected to remain professional at all times, it’s only natural for medical assistants to form close relationships with the seniors they care for. This is especially true when elders begin to lose their family members, friends, and peers in their age group. Being in the presence of their medical assistant enables seniors to take their mind off of difficult losses and allows them to reminisce with you about the amazing memories they made over the course of their lives.
That’s why medical elder care is such a unique specialty – medical assistants get to know every aspect of their patient’s life and provide the unwavering support they need on a regular basis. It all adds up to seniors being able to combat the common emotional issues that can come along with aging, allowing them to maintain their independence and dignity thanks to your assistance.
Getting Your Career Started
Elder care medical assistants are always in high demand, for both at-home visits and onsite work at clinical settings. Become fully prepared for a rewarding career in medical elder care at Prism Career Institute, which offers a competitive Medical Assistant Diploma Program at our Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City campuses in New Jersey. For more information, contact us today.