When caring for a resident we want to assist in keeping their independence, but not enable them in a way that is dangerous for their safety or block them from getting the care they truly need. There are levels of independence we require to ensure the residents' safety and quality of life.
When a resident is independent they:
1. Require minimal assistance.
2. Can manage daily activities (ADLs) independently.
3. Need some support with household chores.
4. Desire socialization and community engagement.
5. Are cognitively intact.
Manage daily activities (ADLs):
- Bathing
We can:
• Queue a resident and stand by for the occasional assist.
We can not:
• Fully wash a resident.
- Dressing
We can:
• Queue the resident while assisting with mobility and strength limitations for safety with balance.
We can not:
• Provide nightly aide
- Grooming
We can:
• Queue the resident as well as add extra eyes and occasional hand.
We can not:
• Brush their teeth, cut hair, nails, etc.
- Toileting
Incontinence must be self managed:
• They change their own soiled briefs and manage supplies without being queued.
We can:
• Assist daily garbage management.
• Notify family if resident is incontinent, struggle to change their soiled briefs or spend more than a few hours in soiled briefs without changing them on their own.
• Emergency over the counter UTI test strips available.
We can not:
• Change catheters.
• Offer Biohazard assistance including laundry aide.
• Provide personal care.
• Manage sanitation needs.
• Supply or oversee product quantities.
- Feeding
We can:
• Queue at meal time that it is time to head to the dining room.
We can not:
• Once queued that it is meal time they must be able to get to the dining room independently.
• Once seated they must be able to order a meal and eat independently without being queued.
- Medication Management
A family member or health care worker must presort medication dispenser if resident is not capable:
• The resident must understand what pills they are taking and why they are taking them.
We can:
• Queue the resident to take their medication.
• Family will be notified if prescription medication routine is not properly followed.
We can not:
• Force any resident to take any medication if they choose to say no.
• Keep track of quantity.
• Order refills nor pickup.
• Evaluate their medical status.
• Make medical decisions such as when any medication should be administered.
Maintain cognitive function:
- Orientation and Memory
• Resident must know, who they are, where they are, and why they are there.
- Decision-making
• Residents must be independent in their decision making.
• Example: Even if at times they may get distracted and miss dinner time we can queue them, but they must be able to decide whether they want/need to have dinner.
• If a resident takes medications they must know what they are and why they are taking them.
• Understand any symptoms they are having and be able to relay them to their doctor.
Demonstrate physical mobility:
- Ambulate (get from one place to another)
• Residents must be able to independently ambulate with/without assistance of a cane, walker, motorized scooter or wheelchair.
• If a resident uses a wheelchair they must be able to wheel around independently.
• If there was danger they must be able to get themselves to safety independently.
- Balance
• Residents must have balance and can not be a fall risk.
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