The first edition of the Senior Carer 2018 competition has begun. The initiative aims to periodically reward the most professional and committed volunteers and carers of older people. The call for candidates is ongoing. Applications can be submitted until 21 April 2019 via www.opiekunseniora2018.pl.
The title of Senior Carer 2018 is open to healthcare professionals: family doctors, nurses, geriatricians, as well as community activists whose activities significantly improve the quality of life of dependent seniors.
The Senior Carer 2018 competition is organised by the publisher of the "Czas dla Seniora" (Time for Seniors) portal and Jolanta Kwaśniewska's "Communication without Barriers" Foundation. Beata Tadla became the competition ambassador and Promedica24 was the content partner.
Senior carer: a profession for the future
We are living in times of rapid demographic change - Europe will soon be the oldest continent in the world and Poland the oldest country in Europe. Nearly a quarter of Poland's population is over 60. Within a decade, one in three of our country's inhabitants will enter senior age. Life expectancy is steadily increasing, but the extra years of life are also associated with health challenges typical of senior age: age-related ailments and diseases, but also loneliness.
The idea behind the competition
The Senior Carer of the Year competition was established to highlight the importance of caring for seniors, to draw social attention to the role and profession of senior carers and, above all, to honour the most professional, dedicated and deserving carers and friends of seniors in Poland. "We want to get to know the greatest Senior Carers and show them to the world, so that they inspire others and, with their attitude, give strength to those going through difficult times. If we take a good look around, we can probably all find someone in our surroundings who is caring for a senior citizen. Show them to us! And we will tell others about them", urges Monika Wysocka, Editor-in-Chief of the "Time for Seniors" portal, which organises the competition.
Entries for the competition are accepted in three categories:
- Senior caregiver,
- Volunteer,
- Senior Friend.
The last category refers to all those who do not care for the elderly directly, but contribute to their well-being and health, including through the provision of medical services or social activities.
To enter a mentor or volunteer in the competition, submit an entry using the form on the following website www.opiekunseniora2018.pl
"I firmly believe in the idea of bringing generations together. I am convinced that we can learn a lot from each other. I am in constant contact with seniors who still have dreams, believe that age is only a state of mind, want to develop and are not going to sit under a blanket at home! They are able to give me so much energy, so many warm thoughts, so much inspiration... Let's not close ourselves off to seniors, and we really will all benefit from it.", argues journalist Beata Tadla, ambassador of the competition.
More information about the competition at: www.opiekunseniora2018.pl
The Institute for Patients' Rights and Health Education took patronage of the competition.