Direct Care with Older People (2 days)

Older People are not always valued and this can lead to their support lacking in dignity and respect. Likewise, because of their marginalised position in our society this is reflected in their support not being as considered as those groups more able to self-advocate.

This course, designed for support workers, not only provides appropriate guidelines regarding Good Practice but aims to help learners understand the experience of service users so that work is delivered in a respectful and sensitive manner.

The course certificate will provide NVQ and CIS links.

Learning objectives:

By the end of the course learners should understand:

Day One

• The experience of Older People in support services-findings of recent research
• What is considered to be Good Practice when working with Older People
• The skills that support workers require to provide a quality service
• The importance of working in a safe way and within a Health & Safety framework-the function of the Risk Assessment
• What ‘abuse’ means and the different ways in which Older People can be abused
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults-the workers’ responsibilities
• The support the service user requires to adapt to the physical and mental changes they are experiencing
• The importance of professional record keeping
• What is confidential and what is not confidential-with reference to the organisation’s policy
• What the term Diversity means
• Older people are not all the same. How the worker needs to be respectful and sensitive to the individuality of
  the person, to include their:
        -Culture
        -Belief/faith
        -Gender
        -Sexuality
        -Ability
• Support for others-e.g. partner, family
• How to ensure that each person is supported in a way that ensures their:
        -Respect
        -Choice
        -Dignity
        -Privacy
• Practice guidelines that support the above

Day 2:

This day is practical in character and all areas will be examined from a Person Centred perspective

• How to help someone eat
• The importance of nutrition and a balanced diet
• The importance of the service user’s right to choose
• The importance of hydration-research findings (Age Concern) and CSCI guidelines
• How to help someone drink
• How to assist someone walking and moving*
• The need for exercise to maintain health & mobility
• Practical aids that assist with mobility
• How to ensure that someone is comfortable*
• The need for movement so as to avoid pressure sores*
• How to help the person maintain their personal hygiene:
        -Mouth/teeth care
        -Skin care
        -Intimate areas
        -Washing
        -Bathing
        -Hair etc
• How to help someone dress
• How to help someone manage their continence and use of the toilet
• Foot care (the limitations of the support worker)
• How to ensure that someone is as pain free as is possible
• How to support someone on a social level:
        -Maintaining relationships
        -Intimate relationships
        -Maintaining interests
        -Maintaining self esteem
        -Recreation
        -Occupation
        -Socialisation
• Supporting service users to maintain their lifestyle incl. faith & personal relationships
• The need to recognise the existing strengths of service users and building on these. Because someone is older
  does not mean they have no potential!

Training methods:

• Presentations
• Chalk & Talk
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Group work
• Handouts
• Tutor presentations
• Simulation exercises

*    This course does not include any detailed work on moving people

CP86/4.9