Assisted living employees have a very important job to do. They provide healthcare to people within their own home so that they can remain independent longer. In order to do assisted living well, there should be guidelines with the home health agency for assisted living professionals to follow. These guidelines would cover their job description, the safety concerns, the lifting procedures and the provision of an emergency contact sheet that all home caregivers can provide to their clients.
JOB DESCRIPTION
A typical job description for a home health professional would include the following:
1. Changing dressings, if any.
2. Running all needed errands for the client.
3. Provide transportation to the client for doctor visits and other needed activities.
4. Administer needed medication.
5. Keep adequate records as per the home health agency policies.
6. Provide assistance to clients with limited mobility.
7. Change all bed linens and provide all needed cleaning such as vacuuming and laundry.
8. Provide entertainment to patients through a variety of activities in order to keep their mental faculties strong.
9. Plan and purchase all needed meals and meal ingredients.
10. Check the pulse, temperature, and other health checkups as directed by the agency.
SAFETY CONCERNS
Some safety concerns for assisted living employees would include keeping your shoes on before visiting the home in order to avoid slipping or stubbing your toe. Make sure that the agency knows where you are at all times. If you need to talk on the phone, make sure that you pull off on the side of the road rather than attempting to multi-task too much. Finally, be extra careful if your client’s home is in a high crime area and avoid any contact with pets because they could turn on you.
LIFTING PROCEDURES
The first step in a proper lifting procedure for an assisted living employee would be to first and foremost avoid overexerting themselves. Overexertion can lead to back injuries. Adhere to the following procedures when lifting a home health client:
- Keep your back straight and align with the natural curve of your neck and spine.
- Avoid twisting during lifting of the client.
- Keep your legs straight in order to keep your balance.
- Lift with your legs.
EMERGENCY CONTACT SHEET
Finally, consider that their always should be an individual to contact should an emergency develop. Adhere to these steps and you and your client will always be safe!
