Old Age Care

ITI Old Age Care Trade Syllabus

The ITI Old Age Care trade, also referred to as Old Age Care Assistant, is a one-year vocational training program under the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS), governed by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT). This non-engineering trade trains individuals to provide compassionate care, supervision, and support to elderly people in homes, old age care facilities, hospitals, or clinics. It covers geriatric healthcare, hygiene, dietary management, first aid, emotional counseling, and basic computer skills for record-keeping. The syllabus integrates professional skills, theoretical knowledge, and employability skills to prepare students for roles such as geriatric care assistants, home health aides, or old age home caregivers in healthcare sectors, NGOs, or private care services, or as self-employed caregivers.

Course Overview

• Duration: 1 year (2 semesters, each 6 months)
• NSQF Level: Level 3
• Eligibility: Minimum 8th grade pass (or equivalent)
• Objective: To develop skills for providing physical, emotional, and social care to elderly individuals, ensuring their well-being and independence while meeting industry healthcare standards.

Detailed Syllabus Breakdown 

1. Trade Theory (Theoretical Knowledge)

Covers geriatric care principles, health management, and support techniques.

• Semester 1
  
  • Introduction to Old Age Care
    
    • Overview: role of caregivers, scope in healthcare, old age homes, hospitals.
    • Geriatric Issues: aging process, physical/mental health challenges (dementia, arthritis, mobility issues).
    • Safety: handling medical equipment, preventing falls, workplace hygiene.
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology
    
    • Basics: body systems (circulatory, respiratory, digestive), age-related changes.
    • Common Ailments: diabetes, hypertension, stroke, paralysis, bedsores.
    • Monitoring: vital signs (pulse, BP, temperature), symptoms reporting.
  • Hygiene and Sanitation
    
    • Personal Hygiene: bathing, grooming, oral care, perineal hygiene for elderly.
    • Environmental Hygiene: cleaning rooms, sanitizing equipment, waste disposal.
    • Infection Control: handwashing, sterilization, preventing cross-contamination.
  • Nutrition and Dietary Management
    
    • Principles: balanced diets, nutritional needs for elderly, special diets (diabetic, low-sodium).
    • Planning: preparing dietary charts for stroke, digestive issues, or chronic conditions.
    • Feeding: assisting with meals, tube feeding, hydration monitoring.
  • First Aid and Emergency Care
    
    • Basics: CPR, wound dressing, managing choking, fractures, or seizures.
    • Protocols: identifying emergencies, contacting medical help, calming patients.
    • Equipment: using bandages, splints, oxygen masks safely.
  • Communication and Counseling
    
    • Skills: active listening, empathetic communication with elderly.
    • Counseling: addressing loneliness, depression, or behavioral changes.
    • Ethics: respecting dignity, privacy, cultural sensitivities of elderly.
  • Basic Computer Knowledge
    
    • Tools: MS Word, Excel for records, email for communication.
    • Applications: managing patient data, dietary logs, appointment schedules.
    • Internet: accessing health resources, online training modules.
• Semester 2
  
  • Advanced Geriatric Care
    
    • Conditions: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, post-surgical care, palliative care.
    • Mobility Support: assisting with locomotion, using wheelchairs, walkers.
    • Rehabilitation: exercises for strength, coordination, mental stimulation.
  • Old Age Home Management
    
    • Operations: daily routines, staff coordination, activity planning.
    • Infrastructure: kitchen hygiene, room setups, accessibility features.
    • Regulations: healthcare laws, resident rights, safety standards.
  • Psychological and Sociological Aspects
    
    • Psychology: understanding elderly emotions, coping with loss, mental health.
    • Sociology: family dynamics, community integration, social activities.
    • Support: organizing games, storytelling, group therapy sessions.
  • Medical Charting and Documentation
    
    • Records: maintaining dietary, medical, and activity logs.
    • Tools: digital charting, updating health reports, sharing with doctors.
    • Accuracy: ensuring error-free data, confidentiality compliance.
  • Firefighting and Safety Regulations
    
    • Techniques: using fire extinguishers, evacuation planning.
    • Safety: hazard identification, emergency drills, equipment checks.
    • Environment: climate control for elderly comfort, seasonal health precautions.
  • Healthcare Systems and Policies
    
    • Systems: role of hospitals, NGOs, government schemes for elderly.
    • Policies: health insurance, senior citizen benefits, legal rights.
    • Advocacy: promoting elderly welfare, resource networking.
  • Entrepreneurship and Soft Skills
    
    • Business: starting a caregiving service, client management.
    • Skills: time management, teamwork, professional ethics.
    • Trends: technology in geriatric care (wearables, telehealth).

2. Trade Practical (Hands-On Skills)

Focuses on caregiving, hygiene, and administrative tasks in simulated environments.

• Semester 1
  
  • Safety and Hygiene Practice
    
    • Practicing: handwashing, sanitizing tools, maintaining clean workstations.
    • Assisting: bathing, grooming, dressing elderly in lab setups.
    • Checking: room sanitation, infection control measures in mock care units.
  • Vital Signs Monitoring
    
    • Measuring: blood pressure, pulse, temperature using manual/digital devices.
    • Recording: symptoms, abnormalities, reporting to supervisors in labs.
    • Observing: skin conditions, mobility issues, behavioral changes.
  • Dietary Management
    
    • Preparing: meal plans, special diets for elderly with health issues.
    • Assisting: feeding, ensuring proper portions, monitoring intake in labs.
    • Documenting: dietary charts, hydration logs, nutritional feedback.
  • First Aid Application
    
    • Performing: CPR, bandaging, splinting in simulated emergencies.
    • Managing: mock scenarios (falls, choking, seizures) in lab setups.
    • Equipping: assembling first aid kits, using oxygen masks, defibrillators.
  • Mobility Assistance
    
    • Supporting: helping elderly walk, use wheelchairs, or transfer to beds.
    • Practicing: safe lifting, positioning to prevent bedsores in labs.
    • Using: mobility aids (canes, walkers), ensuring proper fit.
  • Computer Skills
    
    • Operating: MS Office for charting, email for communication in labs.
    • Managing: patient data, scanning documents, printing reports.
    • Transferring: data to storage media, emailing health updates.
  • Communication Practice
    
    • Engaging: role-playing conversations with elderly, addressing concerns.
    • Counseling: simulating emotional support for loneliness, grief in labs.
    • Reporting: discussing patient status with mock healthcare teams.
• Semester 2
  
  • Advanced Care Techniques
    
    • Assisting: patients with Alzheimer’s, paralysis, or post-surgical needs.
    • Performing: catheter care, bedsore prevention, wound dressing in labs.
    • Supporting: rehabilitation exercises, mental games for cognitive health.
  • Old Age Home Simulation
    
    • Managing: daily schedules, meal services, activity sessions in mock setups.
    • Organizing: group activities (yoga, crafts), social events in labs.
    • Maintaining: kitchen hygiene, room cleanliness, safety checks.
  • Counseling and Emotional Support
    
    • Conducting: mock counseling for elderly with depression, anxiety.
    • Facilitating: group discussions, memory-sharing sessions in labs.
    • Observing: behavioral patterns, reporting mental health concerns.
  • Documentation and Charting
    
    • Recording: digital/paper-based medical, dietary, activity logs in labs.
    • Updating: health reports, sharing with mock doctors, families.
    • Ensuring: data privacy, accuracy in patient records.
  • Emergency and Safety Drills
    
    • Practicing: fire evacuation, extinguisher use in simulated scenarios.
    • Conducting: safety audits, hazard checks in mock care homes.
    • Preparing: emergency kits, response plans for elderly safety.
  • Field Visits and On-the-Job Training
    
    • Visiting: old age homes, hospitals, NGOs for real-world exposure.
    • Assisting: caregivers in feeding, mobility, hygiene tasks during 4-week training.
    • Reporting: documenting observations, linking to syllabus skills.
  • Project Work
    
    • Task: designing a care plan for an elderly patient (diet, activities, hygiene).
    • Output: implementing plan in labs, presenting outcomes, documenting process.
    • Portfolio: compiling care logs, photos, reports for evaluation.

3. Workshop Calculation and Science

Supports caregiving with basic calculations and science.

• Semester 1: Arithmetic (dosage calculations, meal portions), biology (nutrition, hygiene).
• Semester 2: Measurements (vital signs, room temperatures), physics (mobility aids, safety equipment).

4. Engineering Drawing

Minimal focus, adapted for caregiving.

• Semester 1: Sketching care room layouts, equipment placements.
• Semester 2: Drawing accessibility designs (ramps, handrails) for elderly.

5. Employability Skills

Enhances job readiness and interpersonal skills.

• Semester 1: Communication (patient interaction), basic IT (record-keeping).
• Semester 2: Teamwork (care team collaboration), entrepreneurship (caregiving services), stress management.

Assessment and Certification

• Examinations: Semester-wise (theory + practical).
• Certification: National Trade Certificate (NTC) from NCVT, recognized nationally.
• Evaluation: Based on caregiving skills, patient interaction, documentation accuracy, and project quality.

Career Opportunities

• Employment: Geriatric care assistant, home health aide, hospital caregiver in old age homes, NGOs, or private healthcare.
• Self-Employment: Starting a caregiving service, freelance elderly care, or consulting for care homes.
• Further Studies: Diploma in Nursing, certifications in Geriatric Care, or B.Sc. in Healthcare.

Note

• This syllabus aligns with NCVT guidelines but may vary slightly by institution or state.
• For the latest version, refer to the Directorate General of Training (DGT) or local ITI.
• Source: Adapted from NCVT CTS framework and healthcare industry standards.