HHA Geriatric Specialty

USDOL

National (OA)

Documents

Individual state requirements may vary. Please contact your local apprenticeship office to ensure this version is suitable to your state’s requirements.

Work Process Schedule

Work Process Content

On the Job Training

Anonymous

Skills

Provide Appropriate Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) to Maximize Independence and Well-Being, Incorporating, Expanded Understanding of Aging Considerations and Client Preferences

Provide bathing assistance with consideration of client’s physical, mental and cognitive status based on individual preferences and/or needs
Provide assistance with oral and denture care, recognizing and reporting problems such as loose-fitting dentures, missing teeth, dry mouth, and plaque buildup
Provide nail care according to plan of care, monitoring condition & reporting abnormalities
Provide foot care and monitors condition for any early signs of breakdown.
Provide assistance with dressing and undressing as needed based on individual needs and use of assistive devices as per plan of care
Demonstrate use and care of prosthetic and orthotic devices and reports problems
Incorporate task segmentation with ADL’s as outlined in care plan
Provide assistance with bowel/bladder elimination based on individual needs
Demonstrate care of suprapubic and ostomy appliances per agency procedure
Assist to maintain personal hygiene needs by providing hair care, shaving, pericare, applying make-up, washing and drying face and hands based on consumer needs

Provide Therapeutic Interventions in Caring for Cognitively Impaired and Meeting Psychosocial and Mental Health Needs of Client

Demonstrate techniques for addressing the unique needs and behaviors of individuals with dementia (Alzheimer’s Disease and others)
Communicate effectively with cognitively impaired clients
Communicate understanding of the behavior of cognitively impaired clients and verbalizes techniques to circumvent negative behaviors
Respond appropriately to the behavior of cognitively impaired clients
Utilize intervention to reduce the effects of cognitive impairments, incorporating therapeutic interventions according to plan of care
Provide support to families and significant others of cognitively impaired clients.
Recognize and report signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety
Identify and promptly report mental status and behavioral changes
Implement intervention to support consumer coping mechanisms according to the plan of care

Assist in Identifying the Social Needs of Clients

Identify basic human needs throughout the lifespan, including physical (security, shelter, food, clothing), socio-cultural (family, friends), psychological (emotional, self-esteem, and self-actualization) and spiritual needs in behaviors of clients
Document and describe mental status and behavior changes
Assist in identifying sources of stress common to clients
Describe how cultural attitudes contribute to psychological problems.
Modify own behavior in response to client behavior
Ensure that clients are not subject to abuse by anyone
Ensure that all incidences of alleged or suspected abuse/neglect are promptly reported
Identify normal sexuality and common myths related to sexuality and aging
Facilitate the client's expression of needs and provide supportive communication
Assist and instruct clients to be independent in the ADL’s
Modify care to accommodate client values, customs or habits
Demonstrate use family members as a source of client emotional support
Provide appropriate care for clients with depression, schizophrenia, and cognitive impairment

Incorporate Appropriate Interventions in Caring for Dying Clients

Identify and recognize the stages of dying
Assist in care of dying client and their family members considering spiritual cultural beliefs
Observe records and report cessation of vital signs
Provide post-mortem care according to facility guidelines

Apply Nutritional Interventions to Maximize/Maintain Nutritional Health

Assist client with thickened liquids and identify consistency as needed
Recognize thickened liquid consistency and demonstrate ability to mix and administer appropriately
Identify therapeutic diets, the foods included in each specific diet, and the condition where specific diets are prescribed
Recognize personal, cultural, and religious variations in diet
Describe dietary problems of the aging
Identify why a client may need to be encouraged to drink fluids as ordered, recognize symptoms of dehydration and report promptly
Provide and restrict fluids as ordered, verbalizing rationale for restrictions.
Prepare and position the client appropriately for meals
Identify clients at nutritional risk and implement measures to minimize weight loss as per care plan
Assist the client with eating using effective techniques
Observe and record the amount/percentage consumed
Recognize potential problems associated with feeding tubes

Maintain a Safe, Home-like Environment for Geriatric Clients

Establish a safe, clean, comfortable and home-like environment with regard for the client's preferences
Identify environmental safety hazards, and methods used to prevent accidents, including falls, slips, and tripping hazards and use safety precautions when oxygen is in use
Identify disaster plans and vulnerability of clients in given situations
Maintain and enforce safety precautions related to age of client
Apply and monitor mobility alarms and demonstrates appropriate application according to plan of care
Demonstrate consideration of the client's sensory and/or cognitive impairments when planning a safe environment
Monitor equipment safe use and maintenance of equipment

Incorporate Expanded Knowledge of Geriatrics in Care Delivery, Makes Observations in the Care of Clients with Complex Clinical Needs, and Alerts Nursing and Medical Staff to Changes in Condition

Recognize client need for skin protectors (eg. geri-gloves) to protect fragile skin and implements these interventions as needed
Promote sense of value incorporating past life experiences and recognitions, encouraging appropriate activity participation and recognizing individual sense of worth
Incorporate knowledge of care of client with complex orthopedic needs – such as: complications of hip-replacement surgery, transfer of patient/client with hip-replacement surgery, logrolling of immobile consumer, guidelines for the care of a client in a cast
Incorporate knowledge of care for clients with chronic or severe pain
Recognize symptoms of fecal impaction, monitors bowel function, and promptly reports any abnormalities

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