This is the second part of an interview series with Dicki Yonata, who works at the Kenjokai Baden Geriatric Health Services Facility in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. He started as a candidate for EPA-certified care worker and is now a care manager. In this part, he shares how he studied for the care manager certification exam.
Mr. Dicki Yonata
Born in Sumatra, Indonesia. Mr. Yonata came to Japan in 2012 as an EPA care worker candidate. He qualified as a certified care worker in 2015 and as a care support specialist (care manager) in 2021. He married in the same year and is the father of two children.
Contents:
Study Method for Passing the Care Manager Exam
I began studying for the care manager certification exam one year in advance. Since it was difficult to set aside a long stretch of time for studying on workdays, I decided that even studying for just 10 minutes at a time would be fine—as long as I kept it up every day. During breaks, I made a habit of reading a reference book on the Kindle app on my smartphone. After getting home, I would review and memorize things while taking a bath, and before bed I would work through past exam questions—bit by bit, day after day. Then, in the final month before the exam, I took several days off and studied every night until 3 a.m.
I personally found the legal aspects, like the long-term care insurance system, to be quite difficult. But if you want to get certified, you simply have to study. Planning and consistency are key. I took a break from work a month before the exam, and my coworkers supported me during that time. I think people at most facilities would cheer you on as well.
In terms of Japanese ability, I think having JLPT N2 is probably enough. In my case, I studied Japanese for six months before coming to Japan under the EPA program, and then started studying more seriously after arriving. I passed N3 in my first year in Japan, N2 in my second year, and obtained N1 before taking the certified care worker exam. I planned to get N1 first, then go on to earn both the certified care worker and care manager certifications.
Wearing Three Hats at Work Every Day
Currently, I work as a certified care worker, a manager, and a care manager. About 60–70% of my role involves caregiving and managerial duties, while care management makes up the remaining 30–40%. During the day, most of my time is spent on caregiving and management tasks, such as conferences (meetings to discuss residents’ conditions), monitoring (speaking one-on-one with residents to hear about their concerns or dissatisfaction), and consulting with staff. I handle care manager responsibilities in between those tasks or during night shifts.
The care manager plays a central role within a facility. I take a bird’s-eye view of whether rehabilitation and nutrition plans are progressing smoothly. At Kenshokai Baden, where I work, there are three care managers. The other two are Japanese—one is both a manager and care manager, and the other focuses mainly on care management. The three of us often discuss how to create care plans, communication approaches, and how to assign responsibilities. Since I also work directly in caregiving, my duties don’t have clear boundaries. People say I seem busy, but it’s a workplace with no overtime, and I really enjoy my job.
In caregiving, what’s most important is staying close to the residents—being present for them. I also believe it’s crucial to always put their wishes first. A good care manager is someone who can truly listen to others, genuinely think about people’s happiness, and, well… likes using a computer (laughs). There’s a lot of paperwork involved, so strong Japanese language skills are a must.
