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'jWJ chapterl The Role of the Support Workerbackgrounds (see Chapter l2). Part of your job isto accept this diversity among people. TheRespecting Diuersity boxes that appear throughoutthis text will help you appreciate the importance ofdiversity and how peoplet backgrounds influencewho they are and what they do.

The people you support can be grouped accord-ing to their problems, needs, and ages:tr OAer adubs. Aging is a normal process and isnot an illness or disease. Many older adultsenjoy good health. However, body changesnormally occur with the aging process. Socialand emotional changes may also occur (seeChapter 17). The risks for contracting serious

illnesses and becoming disabled increase withage. Most older adults remain at home as longas possible. Others are unable to manage evenwith assistance and move into a residentialfaciliry. Throughout the text, issues relevant toolder adults are discussed.Peoplc uitb disabilities. Some people are dis-abled due to illness, injury, or conditions pres-ent at birth. Disabilities may affect physicalfunctioning, mental functioning, or both.Many adults with disabilities live in their ownhomes. Many work outside the home. Youmight help disabled clients with their ADls ormay be responsible for teaching them how toperform the ADLs independently.People utitb medicalproblems. Medical prob-lems include illnesses, diseases, and injuries.Medical problems may be short-term (such as abroken bone), long-term (such as diabetes ormultiple sclerosis), or progressive and life-threatening (such as some types of cancer).Peoplc baaing su.rgery. Surgical clients are thosebeing prepared for or who have recendy had sur-gery. Preoperative care involves preparing theclient for what to expect after surgery. The clienttfears and anxieties are also addressed. Needs aftersurgery relate to relieving pain and discomfort,preventing complications, and helping the clientadjust to body changes. People recover from sur-geries in hospitals and in their homes.People uitb mental heabh problams. Mentalhealth problems range from mild to severe.Some people function normally but need helpmaking decisions or coping with life stresses.

Others are severely affected and need awith ADLs.People needing rebabilitatioz. Retion is the process of restoring a persohighest level of functioning possiblethe use of therapy, exercise, or other mThe person may need to regain functdue to surgery illness, or accident. Somtals have special rehabilitation unitpeople receiving support at home andterm care settings require rehabilitationCbildren. \7hen hospital care is needdren are admitted to the pediatric unareas of Canada hire support workersin pediatric units (Figure l4). Howevsupport work for children occurs innity settings and long-term care facilitiechildren who receive care have phintellectual disabilities. Others nebecause a parent is ill or disabled or hasa new baby. Focus on Children boxeissues related to caring for children.Motbers and neuborns. Complicatdifficulties can occur at any time durinancy and even up to 6 to 8 weels fchildbirth. Some new mothers need awith their own care or with their ncare. Most support work with mothnewborns takes place in the home.B Peoplc requiring qecial care. Somwho have serious and complex medictions need special care and equHospitds have special care units, iintensive care units, coronary care unitsdialysis units, burn units, and emrooms. Some areas of Canada hireworkers to work in these units. Yotransport people from one unit to anotspecimens to the lab, and assist witprocedures. In some parts of Canada,workers do not provide personalpatients in unstable or critical conditio

TI.IE HEAUTH CARE TEAMA team is a group of people workingtoward a common goal. Health care teamsprofessionals with a variety of skills and kn

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