What You Need to Know in the Care Sector: Your Short Guide to Essential Skills

If you’re considering a stable job in Europe, the care sector is an excellent choice. The EU population is aging, and the demand for qualified caregivers is increasing every year. For example, in Germany, the number of people needing care could rise to 3.4 million by 2030.
But what skills are needed in the care sector? Let’s figure it out together!

Key Skills in the Care Sector

Overall, the skills can be divided into three main groups:

• Essential Skills – Required regardless of the care recipient’s condition.
• Conditionally Necessary Skills – Needed when caring for people with higher levels of assistance.
• Medical and Nursing Skills – Performed only under the supervision of a doctor or medical staff.
  Let’s take a closer look at each category.

Essential Skills

Over the past five years, the role of a caregiver has become even more important, and about 3% of all employed citizens in the EU now work in the care sector. However, each country has its own requirements. For example, in Austria, a caregiver is expected to have the following skills:

Household Skills

✅ Cooking meals
✅ Cleaning
✅ Shopping for groceries and supplies
✅ Caring for clothing
✅ Looking after pets and plants

Social Skills

✅ Communicating with the care recipient
✅ Helping maintain social contacts
✅ Accompanying the person on walks or visits

Managing Daily Tasks

✅ Planning the care recipient's daily schedule
✅ Assisting with routine tasks
✅ Managing expenses and record-keeping

🗣 Knowing the Language – Your Advantage!

Communicating with the person under your care is an important part of your job. To better understand their needs and build a trusting relationship, it’s helpful to know at least the basics of German.
Dahlia Care offers you an intensive language course to help you feel more confident and provide you with useful information to make communication easier.

Conditionally Necessary Skills

Some care recipients have special needs, and you won’t be able to perform all procedures on your own. If something is prohibited or requires medical intervention, specially trained staff will come to assist.
You may also need the following skills:
✅ Assisting with eating and drinking
✅ Helping with personal hygiene and bathing
✅ Assisting with dressing and undressing
✅ Helping with mobility (standing up, walking, changing positions in bed)
✅ Assisting with toilet visits (including incontinence care)

⚠️ If the care recipient's condition changes, you will receive instructions about new care rules and which tasks you are no longer allowed to perform.

Medical and Nursing Skills

In most EU countries, caregivers are not allowed to perform medical procedures without a doctor’s authorization. These tasks include:
⛔ Administering medication (tablets, injections)
⛔ Applying dressings
⛔ Treating bedsores and open wounds
⛔ Measuring blood glucose levels
⛔ Using specialized medical devices

💡 Want to Expand Your Opportunities?

If you want to learn basic medical skills, many EU countries offer free and paid courses. Dahlia Care can help you find these courses so you can enhance your qualifications. However, remember: even if you complete the training, you can only perform medical procedures under a doctor's supervision.

Want to Work in the Care Sector in Europe?

Fill out the form on our website – and we’ll help you take the first step toward a stable and well-paid job!

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