HelpAge begins free training to caregivers

HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL) opened a new Home Care Training Centre, which provides free training to caregivers to serve feeble and disabled elderly people in the country.

In addition, HelpAge in collaboration with the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and the assistance of the Prime Minister’s office also trained care assistants at their islandwide training centres.

This is the first occasion in Sri Lanka a free training centre was commenced for those who are between 18 and 55 years.

The objective of this initiative is to encourage the public to seek the assistance of caregivers without any difficulty to take care of the feeble and bedridden elders living at homes rather than sending them to elders’ homes.

Care assistants are given a comprehensive three-month in-house training during which they are also trained how to handle sophisticated household equipment.

HelpAge Council Member Nimal Dias Jayasinghe and HelpAge, Executive Director Samantha Liyanawaduge opened the new Home Care Training centre.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Council Member Jayasinghe highlighted the value of establishing a Training Centre since it will immensely benefit a large number of feeble elders who actually need a helping hand during the latter part of their lives.

Head of Home Care Division, Janaka Seneviratna thanked the National Apprenticeship and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), the officials of nursing homes, hospitals and elders homes for their support given during the training programmes for care assistants.

“Trainees will also receive the internationally recognised National Vocational Qualification Level 2 (NVQ Level 2) certificate that helps them to work as care assistants even in foreign countries,” he said.