In the first part of our interview series with Dicki Yonata, an EPA care worker turned care manager at the Kenshokai Baden Healthcare Facility for the Elderly in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, we asked Dicki, who worked as a nurse in his home country, why he found working in the care industry so rewarding.
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:
From working as a nurse in Indonesia to working as a certified care worker in Japan
Before coming to Japan, I studied nursing at a university in Java, Indonesia, and worked as a nurse at a hospital for one year after graduating. I had always wanted to work abroad and considered going to Europe or the US, but I was concerned about the cultural differences. Japan is also an Asian country, is located close to my home country Indonesia, and both countries have entered into an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
I was also intrigued by the high standards in many respects. Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world as well as the lowest mortality rate in the world for babies under one year old. Japan’s passport allows its citizens to visit countries all across the world, and Japan also has a culture of hospitality, as well as sushi.
At first, I wanted tow ork as a nurse in Japan, but to become a burse candidate under the EPA, I needed at least two years of experience working in a hospital. I thought that there was no difference whenn it came to working for others, so I came to Japan as a care worker candidate. And as I worked, day by day, I began to find care work more and more rewarding.
Care workers routinely help patients with meals, rehabilitation, and emotional care. Some of them want to go home, some of them suffer from dementia, and some of them complain about their anxiety and frustration. We talk and listen to these people on a daily basis. Depending on the facility, the number of nurses may be limited. What is important, however, is to be close to patients, and that is exactly what care workers do. As I listen to the stories of patients and remain close to them on a daily basis, I have come to believe that I am suited to working in care.
From care worker to site leader to care manager
I became a certified care worker in 2015. I used to work while following instructions, but after obtaining my certification, I began thinking carefully about how I could provide better care. I started noticing small changes in the gait and facial expressions of patients, and I am now able to link these changes to the care I provide.
I then became a floor leader, and in 2018 I took on an intermediate management position known as Next in Kenshokai, and now I am a manager and a deputy head. I have more opportunities to instruct junior staff, and I organize and pass on my knowledge and experience to them. The guidance for care work is the same for both foreigners and Japanese, but I also provide support for junior staff who come to Japan under the EPA program to prepare for the national certified care worker examination. Understanding Japanese is key to obtaining the certification. There are times when it is difficult to study while working, but I hope they will perservere and continue to raise their level.
I wanted to become a care manager because I have seen change in many patients depending on their care plans. I thought that if I could make certain plans for certain people, they would be able to lead more fun and enjoyable lives. In order to realize this goal, I decided to become someone who would be in charge of creating care plans.
After a year of study, I qualified as a care manager in 2021. Currently, I am in charge of care plans for about 15 people. In order to provide the best plan for each patient, I always think about what kind of life the patient really wants to lead, and whether they are leading happy lives now.
