With applause, hugs, videos, gifts and words of thanks, the closing of the 5th workshop on health in the elderly was held.

Absolut happiness. 17 dreams achieved, 17 people who want to dignify the quality of life of the elderly, attended the Gerontological Caregivers workshop for 4 months organized by the Extension Department in conjunction with the Nursing Department of the University of La Serena. The theoretical-practical activity relied on the vast experience of the Department's Magister in Social and Academic Gerontology, Carmen Retamal, in collaboration with her students. Diego Valenzuela, Viviana Ollarzú, Macarena Abarca and Meyling Herrera, who in an emotional and applauded certification ceremony held in the Exhibition Hall, presented the recognition to the students of said workshop.

A closing ceremony consumed by the joy of the attendees and the future gerontological caregivers, was reflected in videos, praise and gifts to the three best averages in the workshop. The Mg. Carmen Retamal stated that she felt satisfied with the work carried out during these years, considering that this is the 5th training that she has carried out to raise awareness among the elderly about the elderly, in addition to giving them the necessary knowledge regarding the world of old age and the dignity that the elderly they need.

“I believe that they perceive themselves as capable, the feeling that remains is that they obtained tools to be able to do a decent job and a job with affection, love, with a vocation for service (…). We have to realize that adults existolder, who are next to us, who have a mom and dad at home who are going to be older, a grandfather who is old and we don't want him to deteriorate. Therefore, we have to take care of him and if he deteriorates, we have to provide him with dignified care to give him a good quality of life throughout his life," said the expert. 

Teresa Fuentes, who won first place in the course, stated that she was happy with this new learning and felt empowered to carry out everything she had learned, in addition to providing a good service, in conjunction with other disciplines that she performs, based on relaxation. “I am very happy because I have an opportunity to give care, not only to a person, to an adult, but I also have a lot to give in terms of love and the spiritual part. I am a reiki teacher and I am also a relaxation and yoga teacher. So, I want to put all this together to combine it and deliver it to people”, said the outstanding student of this gerontology workshop.

On the other hand, Constanza Macaya says that caring for the elderly was a rewarding experience that she learned through her work. Despite her young age, she ensures respect and awareness that in our society, the older community is present and that contact with them motivated her to improve. "I worked taking care of older adults and I really liked it because they are affectionate and you have to know how to treat them (...) and apart from that, my parents are older adults anyway, so I wanted to work to take care of them," clarified the youngest caregiver in the class.

Finally, Catalina Cvitanic, director of Extension of the ULS, expressed the importance of the house of studies being a manager of these types of training open to the community. "Considering all the problems that exist today regarding the care of the elderly, of course our University, as a regional university, is being a leader in this matter (...), at the regional level there is no other place where people can be trained in these areas, economically and with solid academic support, since this course is carried out jointly with the Nursing Department of our house of studies”, affirmed the director.