Healthcare Assistants are becoming increasingly important across Europe. As health and social care systems respond to population ageing, workforce shortages and digital transformation, their role is becoming more complex and requires a broader range of skills.
According to Eurostat, people aged 65 and over represented around 22% of the EU population in 2025, and this proportion is expected to continue rising. This demographic change is increasing demand for long-term, personalised and community-based care.
At the same time, staff shortages remain a major challenge. The European Labour Authority has identified Healthcare Assistants among the occupations affected by persistent shortages, while WHO Europe has warned that the European Region could face a shortage of nearly one million health workers by 2030.
These trends mean that Healthcare Assistants need to be prepared for new responsibilities and working environments.
Digital competence is becoming particularly important. Electronic health records, telemedicine, remote monitoring and AI-supported tools are increasingly present in healthcare services. Healthcare Assistants therefore need to feel confident using digital technologies, while also understanding data protection, digital communication and the limits of technology in care.
Technical skills alone are not enough.
Healthcare Assistants often spend significant time in direct contact with patients and service users. Skills such as empathy, active listening, intercultural awareness and effective communication are essential for delivering person-centred care, especially when supporting older people, people with disabilities and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Teamwork is equally important. Modern healthcare increasingly depends on collaboration between different professionals, including nurses, doctors, therapists and social care staff. Healthcare Assistants need to communicate observations clearly, understand their role within multidisciplinary teams and contribute effectively to coordinated care.
This is where LYRA – Learning Pathways for Healthcare Assistants comes in.
LYRA aims to innovate vocational education and training for Healthcare Assistants by combining digital skills, relational and intercultural competences, Health Humanities and interprofessional education.
Through new learning pathways and international cooperation, the project seeks to better prepare current and future Healthcare Assistants for the realities of modern care.
Investing in these competences is not simply about adapting to new technologies. It is about ensuring that healthcare across Europe remains effective, inclusive and human-centred.
The article is based on the information taken from the following sources:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/interactive-publications/demography-2026
https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/publications/labour-shortages-and-surpluses-europe-2024
https://www.who.int/europe/activities/building-a-skilled-health-workforce