Caregiver's Vocation Finds Formal Ground in Argentine Platform

María Ramírez, a 34-year-old caregiver from Florencio Varela, Argentina, describes her work with profound dedication. "Every time I care for an elderly person, I do it as if I were caring for my mom," she says, reflecting a deep sense of vocation that has defined her career since age 26.

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Every time I care for an elderly person, I do it as if I were caring for my mom.

Despite the demanding nature of the work, involving medication, emergency assistance, and weekend care, Ramírez faced precarious conditions and low pay in the informal sector. "It was always a little-recognized task, done informally and paid poorly," she recalls. She pursued training as a home assistant and phlebotomist, aiming for progress but struggling to make ends meet while raising her three children. Her mother's illness and subsequent death in 2023 deeply affected her, though she paused work briefly to care for her.

Ramírez's career took a significant turn in March when she joined CuidarNos, a social cooperative that connects caregivers with families through an online platform. This initiative guarantees formal employment contracts and provides free training. "I did a specialization to accompany older adults thanks to an agreement the platform has with the National University of Avellaneda," she explains. "Now I earn more per hour than before and have more patients. For the first time, I can say that with my profession I can support my household."

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It was always a little-recognized task, done informally and paid poorly.

Formal employment has brought María essential benefits like social security and work-risk insurance, along with greater job stability. CuidarNos has facilitated 300 caregiving requests in just two months, building a network of over 180 caregivers serving 300 users. The platform currently operates in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area and aims to expand nationwide, with existing partnerships in Rosario, Mar del Plata, and San Nicolás.

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I did a specialization to accompany older adults thanks to an agreement the platform has with the National University of Avellaneda. Now I earn more per hour than before and have more patients. For the first time, I can say that with my profession I can support my household.