Working for our seniors.
Working for our seniors.
viva accompanies Lorena Gutierrez, care manager at the Arturo Soria retirement home. Providing the best possible personal support and care for residents is always at the heart of her daily work.
Recorded by the Caser editorial team Photos Fernando Parrilla
22.4.2021
6.30 a.m.
A special alarm rouses her from her sleep: Milka, Lorena Gutiérrez’s beagle, announces that it’s time to get up. Lorena likes to start the day with a healthy breakfast while familiarizing herself with the day’s schedule. The journey from her home in the suburbs of Madrid to the retirement home takes a little while. She passes the time by listening to her favourite music.
8.30 a.m.
After she arrives, she visits every floor to find out about any incidents during the night and morning shifts. She organizes the schedule for the day and oversees the care-giving. In doing so, she is in close contact with her colleagues – from geriatric nurses and physiotherapists, doctors, therapists, care specialists and psychologists to support staff.
9.30 a.m.
At a short meeting with the head of the facility, tasks are set for Lorena’s team, plans are agreed and the residents’ needs discussed over a cup of coffee. At the same time, goals are set for the day and any incidents or problems are clarified.
10.00 a.m.
Lorena organizes and supervises the planned physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychotherapy sessions. She discusses the senior citizens’ condition with the specialists, geriatric assessments are performed, and the residents are monitored to ensure that everyone always receives precisely the support and services they need. Lorena then visits other residents to find out about their wishes and needs. This enables her to ensure that they feel comfortable, settle into the facility well and are happy.
1.00 p.m.
A meeting is held with the care team to draw up individual plans for the senior citizens. The coordination between the individual professional groups is essential to achieving progress and setting new goals.
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2.00 p.m.
Before joining colleagues for lunch, Lorena uses the quiet time at the retirement home to do some administrative tasks: drawing up rosters, answering queries, maintaining patient files or contacting medical centres, hospitals or suppliers.
4.00 p.m.
Now it’s time to talk to the families and discuss the individual care plan with the residents or their closest relatives. Lorena is in direct contact with the families, as she knows that this is the only way to develop a strong relationship of trust.
6.00 p.m.
Time to go home! At home, Milka is waiting for Lorena and her evening walk in the fresh air. Luckily, Lorena’s husband, Pedro, likes cooking and so dinner is usually already on the table when mealtime comes.
11.00 p.m.
Lorena takes a last look at her diary and prepares everything she needs for the next day. To wind down, she reads a book before going to sleep.
Lorena Gutiérrez completed her training as a care specialist in 2007. Three years later, she came to Madrid to take up a job in care management. Since 2015, she has been care manager at the Arturo Soria retirement home (Madrid).
viva. climb.