Sharpening Our Focus, Enhancing Their Lives

(Student Textbook)

Sharpening Our Focus, Enhancing Their Lives:
An Assisted Living Personal Care Attendant Program

The Institute for Caregiver Education is aligned with the Pioneer Network, and their publications reflect this point of view. The Institute sees culture change as a foundational philosophy that underlies the desire to improve the quality of life for both residents and staff. Principles that are the basis for culture change include emphases on respect, empowerment, choice, relationships, and community. With this in mind, the Institute has created a five-day (40 hour) training program for personal care attendants. The manual includes step-by-step checklists for 40 procedures, a guide for instructors, quizzes and answer keys, various forms (sign-in sheet, course evaluation, etc.), and an additional section on assistance with medications.
 
Chapters include:
Personal qualifications
Communication skills
Barriers to effective communication
Managing conflict
Doing what is right for our residents
Nutrition
Meeting residents’ dietary needs
Monitoring and assisting with nutritional needs
Abuse
Psychosocial needs
Behavior management
Managing difficult behaviors
Bladder incontinence
Bowel incontinence
Infection control
Preventing and controlling the spread of infection
Isolation precautions
Infection control for equipment and supplies
TB and nosocomial infections
Hazcom/material safety data sheets
Safety and accident prevention
Environmental risk factors
Personal safety
Resident safety
Seizures and fainting
Hemorrhage and shock
Caring for the dying resident
Stages and signs of approaching death
Postmortem care
Resident assessments and support plans
Oxygen use
Vital signs
Assisting residents with personal care
 Institute for Caregiver Education, 2005, binder, 367 pages