Module 5: Everyday support and caregivers in senior citizen work

Training in household-related services

Due to the high level of interest, Module 5 Everyday support and care workers was offered a second time with extended content as part of the BIWAQ V training program for household-related services. Carina Deutscher, a speaker from a.l.s.o. Schwäbisch Gmünd, offered nine participants a comprehensive introduction to working with older people from 24.09. to 24.11.2025, accompanied by a German course given by Vera Holzwarth from the Schwäbisch Gmünd VHS.

As in the first successful run of this module in spring 2025, the aim was to give participants an insight into the varied tasks involved in care and nursing so that they can expand their knowledge and acquire new skills:

• Professions in geriatric and nursing care 
• Illnesses and limitations in old age
• Possible tasks of everyday companions and caregivers 
• Excursion to St. Loreto, Institute for Social Professions, Schwäbisch Gmünd
• Basics of communicating with older peopleThe detailed information from the first training run: Training review Module 5 - BIWAQ V

Three additional topics were added to the second round of Module 5:

• Observation and perception according to the AEDL care conceptActivities and existential experiences of life. Monika Krohwinkel's care concept is based on the needs of people in need of care. The participants learned that AEDLs can be used to recognize and promote the resources of people in need of care and to take deficits into account.
• One practical exercise took place in a room in a home for disabled people run by Lebenshilfe. Here, Carina Deutscher showed the participants how to prepare and serve a meal and how to follow up on it, with the help of a person in need of care who is actually an a.l.s.o. employee. The participants learned that many details need to be taken into account during the process: e.g. greeting, asking how the patient is feeling, transferring from the care bed to the wheelchair. When serving the meal, the speaker showed how to pay attention to the swallowing behavior of people in need of care. Complete documentation is important in the follow-up. Before a specialist says goodbye to a person in need of care, they ask about their wishes and inform them about the rest of the day.
• During the last appointment repeated Carina Deutscher, at the request of the participants, the topic of the basics of communication with older people Also reflected The participants were given the opportunity to find out whether the job of an everyday companion suited them, Questions about follow-up qualifications and employment opportunities to place.

The module for everyday support/caregivers consisted of 16 sessions: Specialist theory with practice took place alternately on eight dates and a German course on eight dates. Here, the participants prepared the specialist vocabulary for each topic under the guidance of Vera Holzwarth. The German course took place in the BIWAQ training room in Unipark and the specialist theory with practice took place in a.l.s.o. training rooms.

Module 5 Everyday companionship and caregivers provided participants with comprehensive and valuable insights into this professional field through the combination of sound specialist theory and practical exercises. This is also evident from the feedback. Some of the participants would like to gain qualifications in this field. The BIWAQ team is currently looking into the possibilities for this.

Although the technical vocabulary was challenging, all participants were very satisfied with the training at the end. As in the previous modules, the combination of a German course beforehand and subsequent technical theory with practical elements proved to be particularly beneficial.

The training program for household-related services continues: Module 2 Cleaning/Hygiene is currently taking place for the third time. On 15.04.2026, Module 5 Everyday support and caregivers in senior citizen work will begin.

The technical theory with practice is offered on Monday mornings. All modules have the accompanying German course on Wednesday mornings.

10.03.2026
Vera Holzwarth