My Mother's Life Dedicated to the Only Woman I'll Love, My Mother.

Home Support Workers need to understand a few basic rules.

1. The first rule, is simple. YOU are in someone’s home TO HELP, NOT HINDER.
   • Yes, there are some Patients who cannot answer the door, and it is left unlocked for the worker to enter.  HOWEVER that is not the case with MANY so really, DO NOT ASSUME YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO WALK IN.
   • Frankly the Company providing the service should have each assigned worker, clearly instructed on this matter, and MAKE SURE THEIR EMPLOYEES KNOW IT!
2. Patient Safety should be right up there, at the top of the list.
   • It should be simple common sense, but obviously it isn’t, or so it seems with the workers who show up to this household.  You do not give the Patient a walker in the wrong position.
     • In other words, if the walker has two wheels, and skids on two of the legs, you DO NOT give them the wheels facing them.  The SKIDS OR RUBBER ENDS are what faces the Patient.
     • This allows for them to easily manouver the walker, doing it ass backwards, impedes their walking, and can lead to the walker being caught on carpet, door runners, etc, WHICH CAN LEAD TO FALLS.
   • Follow a Patient from behind, NOT LEAD THEM, if they are obviously unsteady on their feet, or use a walker.
     • It isn’t Rocket Science you know, if they are unsteady and you are leading, you can’t help them if they become unstable.
     • By being behind, you can easily lean over to correct their motion, to avoid obstacles, assuming you are paying attention, and keeping an eye out for such things.
3. Washing & Drying is not about a splash of water, a dab with a towel.
   • It is why you are there, this is your PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY.
     • Those in your care, are unable to properly cleanse their private area, as well as their more accessible regions. You are only adding to their discomfort, when you fail to adequately insure that their entire body is cleaned, with warm water and soap.
       • Yes, it can be unpleasent to do, and we all may not like it, but this is important to the continued health of your Patient.  Failing to do this properly, and completely, can and does, lead to serious health issues.
     • Proper Drying is PARAMONT.
       • This is how irritations and skin abrasions can happen, do happen.
       • If you fail to properly dry your Patient, in their sensitive spots like the groin, infections can occur, and become difficult to treat, to eradicate.
       • People sweat, and they can’t always reach down, to dry themselves.
       • Urine can collect, or lay against the skin, so if it isn’t dry to begin with, if the pores are open, infections happen.
         • What is worse, is that many elderly patients don’t complain, don’t communicate their needs, so you have to be able to know, if they are dry or not. 
         • YES it takes MORE TIME, but damn it, this is about caring for people, and their needs, not doing some half assed job, to be able to move on to the next victim.
4. Transitioning from sitting to standing, and vice versa is an art, a science even.
   • Most older Patients have issues, with their bones, their strength. You can’t pick them up or sit them down, like they are a rag doll. YOU WILL CAUSE INJURIES.
     • Lifting from under the arms, in the armpits is not comfortable for some, but this isn’t about YOUR COMFORT BUT ABOUT PROTECTING THE PATIENT.
     • A Patient who has a brittle bones can easily have their shoulder seperate, or even their arm break, if you grasp too tightly.  The key is to NOT GRASP THEM AT ALL.
       • Lifting from under the arm, allows them to use what strength they have, and be kept secure, with your strength. Your arm is to guide them, give them that little extra bit of strength needed to get themselves up, or sit down.

It really isn’t a JOB.  It certainly is NOT an easy profession, and certainly the companies operating many of these in home services don’t give a rat’s ass about their employees, or their Patients.

HOWEVER, THAT IS NO EXCUSE TO DO A HALF ASS JOB, OR TO BE UNPROFESSIONAL IN YOUR CARE OF THE PATIENT TRUSTED INTO YOUR HANDS.  THEY ARE VERY SPECIAL TO SOMEONE.

It really isn’t about money either, or at least it shouldn’t be. No one is paid enough, who does a loving, caring, job of being a support worker. They are worth their weight in GOLD and then some, because you see, THEY ARE THE ONE’S WHO CARE ABOUT THE PATIENT, NOT THE PAYCHECK.