how to support older people to maintain their independence
DESCRIPTION
In this presentation, you'll get some great ideas on how to help older people live independently. This presentation will cover: - Different aged care settings/homes - How to help around an older person's home and environment - Different physical, social and environmental issues older people may face and how to recognise these issues and help them through it - Maintaining care plans - How to show an older person respect in their own home - Tools and equipment needed for home and environment maintenance - Dealing with deterioration in an older person's ability to help themselves - House hazards - How to recognise grief in an older person - Who to reach out to for help. IHNA offers qualifications in aged care, disability and nursing. Go to http://www.ihna.edu.au to kick start your health career.TRANSCRIPT
HOW TO SUPPORT
OLDER PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN
THEIR INDEPENDENCE
INTRODUCTION
The elderly’s support needs vary significantly. Care settings are also different:• Home• Independent living accommodation• Aged care facility• Aged living in the community
CARE ACTIVITIES
How you can help:• Home maintenance and repair• Gardening• Cleaning• Laundry
CARE ACTIVITIES
How you can help:• Grocery shopping• Bills and mail• Pet care• Personal care – feeding, showering
TYPES OF DWELLING
Three types of care settings:1.OLDER PERSON’S OWN HOUSE2.RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE FACILITY3.INDEPENDENT LIVING ACCOMODATION
(housing complexes designed for seniors)
Different support is needed for different issues:• Memory problems• Physical ailments and issues• Vision or hearing impairments• Stroke recovery and rehab
SUPPORT
REQUIREMENTS
• Always follow workplace policies and procedures – these ensure safety of both staff and the older clients
• Never do anything that may cause you to get hurt while you are helping an older person.
POLICIES AND SAFETY
CARE PLANS
A care plan:• Explains care requirements of an older person• May include details provided by family or
advocates• May also be known as service plans, support
plans or service delivery plans• Is updated regularly to ensure they continue
to meet the needs of the older person
Health professionals
design and review a care
plan
Information is recorded in client’s care
plan
Explain care plan to client
Carry out level of
support as outlined in care plan
Provide feedback to
health professionals & superviors
CARE PLANS
RESPECTING THE OLDER PERSON’S HOME
Respect an older person’s:• Routine – care schedules should take this into
account• Possessions - ask permission before using
something in an older person’s home• Home - older people should feel in charge in
their own environment and understand that you are a visitor there
• Integrity - be polite and tell the person what support you are going to give them
Always involve the older person in their own care – their opinion and
autonomy are very important
RESPECTING THE OLDER PERSON’S HOME
EQUIPMENT FOR HELPING OLDER PEOPLE
Learn policies and procedures for safe use of equipment to support older people & ALWAYS ask your supervisor if unsure
HOME/GARDEN:• Hammer• Screwdriver• Rake• Spade• Lawnmower• Stepladder• Wheelbarrow
EQUIPMENT FOR HELPING OLDER PEOPLE
TRANSPORTING OLDER PEOPLE:• Walking frame• Wheelchair• Hoist
EQUIPMENT FOR HELPING OLDER PEOPLE
MEALS, CLEANING & LAUNDRY• Oven and stove• Microwave• Vacuum cleaner• Washing machine & dryer• Dishwasher• Mop & broom
EQUIPMENT FOR HELPING OLDER PEOPLE
Look for signs that an older person is facing challenges in their own care:• The dishes are not washed up• The older person’s clothes are dirty• The house is untidy or dirty• The shopping is not done• The older person is not eating the food in their
cupboards and fridge• The grass is long• The garden has not been weeded• A blown light globe has not been changed
WATCH FOR DECREASE IN SELF-CARE
Pay attention to what older persons, their
family and advocates are saying!
WATCH FOR DECREASE IN SELF-CARE
Look at care plan and identify what support requirements have changed over time.Report changes as per relevant proceduresBy formally reviewing and changing care plan the older person may become more independent.
WATCH FOR DECREASE IN SELF-CARE
Communication is important:• Record changes to support needs into the
older person’s care notes or communication book - this ensures all the workers providing support to the older person have access to this information.
• Report hazards or incidents may put support staff or older persons at risk of being injured.
WATCH FOR DECREASE IN SELF-CARE
SUPPORTING THE OLDER PERSON TO MAINTAIN THEIR
ENVIRONMENT
All those responsible for supporting older people should make
sure their home, room, garden and
other areas they use are safe, secure and
comfortable
Making the environment safe and comfortable
You can adapt an older person’s environment to ensure it is safe and comfortable in many ways:• Ensure clients pay their bills and always have
electricity, gas, telephone and other utilities• Make sure the temperature is at comfortable
level• Regularly check that personal and fire alarms
are operational
Making the environment safe and comfortable
You can adapt an older person’s environment to ensure it is safe and comfortable in many ways:• Check the locks on doors and windows and
ensure the client can use them• Check electrical appliances and cords for faults
or breaks• Ensure walk-ways are free from tripping
hazards
HAZARDS MAY INCLUDE:• Poor or inappropriate lighting• Slippery or uneven floors• Physical obstructions• Poor appliance maintenance• Inadequate heating and cooling devices• Inappropriate footwear and clothing
Making the environment safe and comfortable
RECOGNISING AND REPORTING SIGNS OF GRIEF
Support workers need to be able to recognise the signs
of grief and work out ways to support
those experiencing grief
STAGES OF GRIEF
STAGE WHAT IT MEANS
Denial • Denial is the first stage of grief. • Person may state "I feel fine."; "This can't be
happening, not to me.“ • In case of a dying person, he/she may deny
the fact that he/she is going to die. • This step is more profound in people who
are dying in young age with diseases like cancer.
Anger • Second stage of grief is anger. • The person is angry about the loss. They try
to find reasons to explain the loss. • They may ask questions like "Why me? It's
not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; "Who is to blame?"etc.
Bargaining Bargaining is the third stage of grief. The person may try to make deals with themselves or others. They may feel that if they do or promise something, then what they have lost may come back. You can hear them saying statements like "Just let me live to see my children graduate."; "I'll do anything for a few more years."; "I will give my life savings if..."
Depression Depression is the fourth stage of grief. The person may feel that they don't care for anything any more. Signs of depression can include sleeping a lot, not being able to sleep, not getting out of bed, not talking to others, not eating well or not going out/ socializing. These are depicted in statements like "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die... What's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?" etc.
Acceptance Acceptance is the last stage of grief. The person begins to accept the loss they have felt and adapt to it.You may hear them say "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it. Our aim should be to help people achieve this last stage by providing support and comfort.
STAGES OF GRIEF
MANIFESTATIONS OF
GRIEF
• Shock• Emotional release• Physical stress• Panic• Guilt• Hostile and destructive behavior• Lack of interest and apathy
USING APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATIONSTRATEGIES
WHEN DEALING WITH GRIEF AND LOSS
• As a support worker, you may get to know the people you support quite well.
• They may come to trust you and feel comfortable talking to you.
• They may talk to you about their feelings of grief when they have experienced a loss.
• It is useful to remember that grief can last a short time or a very long time.
USING COMMUNICATION SKILLS
If someone wants to talk to you about their fears and feelings, use your talking and listening skills, including:• Being courteous• Showing empathy• Not judging people• Watching and active listening• Respecting differences
PROVIDING CLIENTS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORK WITH RELEVANT INFORMATION
• Your clients may need more support to help cope with loss and grief.
• They may need professional assistance to help them cope but are unable to find the right support service.
• They may have someone in their support network who can help them find and contact support services.
A clients support network may include:• Their advocate• Family members• Support workers• Friends• Clergy• Veteran associations
PROVIDING CLIENTS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORK WITH RELEVANT INFORMATION
IHNA offers qualifications in aged care, disability and nursing. Go to http://www.ihna.edu.au to kick start your health career.
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