HOW TO SUPPORT

OLDER PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN

THEIR INDEPENDENCE

INTRODUCTION

The elderly’s support needs vary significantly. Care settings are also different:• Home• Independent living accommodation• Aged care facility• Aged living in the community

CARE ACTIVITIES

How you can help:• Home maintenance and repair• Gardening• Cleaning• Laundry

CARE ACTIVITIES

How you can help:• Grocery shopping• Bills and mail• Pet care• Personal care – feeding, showering

TYPES OF DWELLING

Three types of care settings:1.OLDER PERSON’S OWN HOUSE2.RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE FACILITY3.INDEPENDENT LIVING ACCOMODATION

(housing complexes designed for seniors)

Different support is needed for different issues:• Memory problems• Physical ailments and issues• Vision or hearing impairments• Stroke recovery and rehab

SUPPORT

REQUIREMENTS

• Always follow workplace policies and procedures – these ensure safety of both staff and the older clients

• Never do anything that may cause you to get hurt while you are helping an older person.

POLICIES AND SAFETY

CARE PLANS

A care plan:• Explains care requirements of an older person• May include details provided by family or

advocates• May also be known as service plans, support

plans or service delivery plans• Is updated regularly to ensure they continue

to meet the needs of the older person

Health professionals

design and review a care

plan

Information is recorded in client’s care

plan

Explain care plan to client

Carry out level of

support as outlined in care plan

Provide feedback to

health professionals & superviors

CARE PLANS

RESPECTING THE OLDER PERSON’S HOME

Respect an older person’s:• Routine – care schedules should take this into

account• Possessions - ask permission before using

something in an older person’s home• Home - older people should feel in charge in

their own environment and understand that you are a visitor there

• Integrity - be polite and tell the person what support you are going to give them

Always involve the older person in their own care – their opinion and

autonomy are very important

RESPECTING THE OLDER PERSON’S HOME

EQUIPMENT FOR HELPING OLDER PEOPLE

Learn policies and procedures for safe use of equipment to support older people & ALWAYS ask your supervisor if unsure

HOME/GARDEN:• Hammer• Screwdriver• Rake• Spade• Lawnmower• Stepladder• Wheelbarrow

EQUIPMENT FOR HELPING OLDER PEOPLE

TRANSPORTING OLDER PEOPLE:• Walking frame• Wheelchair• Hoist

EQUIPMENT FOR HELPING OLDER PEOPLE

MEALS, CLEANING & LAUNDRY• Oven and stove• Microwave• Vacuum cleaner• Washing machine & dryer• Dishwasher• Mop & broom

EQUIPMENT FOR HELPING OLDER PEOPLE

Look for signs that an older person is facing challenges in their own care:• The dishes are not washed up• The older person’s clothes are dirty• The house is untidy or dirty• The shopping is not done• The older person is not eating the food in their

cupboards and fridge• The grass is long• The garden has not been weeded• A blown light globe has not been changed

WATCH FOR DECREASE IN SELF-CARE

Pay attention to what older persons, their

family and advocates are saying!

WATCH FOR DECREASE IN SELF-CARE

Look at care plan and identify what support requirements have changed over time.Report changes as per relevant proceduresBy formally reviewing and changing care plan the older person may become more independent.

WATCH FOR DECREASE IN SELF-CARE

Communication is important:• Record changes to support needs into the

older person’s care notes or communication book - this ensures all the workers providing support to the older person have access to this information.

• Report hazards or incidents may put support staff or older persons at risk of being injured.

WATCH FOR DECREASE IN SELF-CARE

SUPPORTING THE OLDER PERSON TO MAINTAIN THEIR

ENVIRONMENT

All those responsible for supporting older people should make

sure their home, room, garden and

other areas they use are safe, secure and

comfortable

Making the environment safe and comfortable

You can adapt an older person’s environment to ensure it is safe and comfortable in many ways:• Ensure clients pay their bills and always have

electricity, gas, telephone and other utilities• Make sure the temperature is at comfortable

level• Regularly check that personal and fire alarms

are operational

Making the environment safe and comfortable

You can adapt an older person’s environment to ensure it is safe and comfortable in many ways:• Check the locks on doors and windows and

ensure the client can use them• Check electrical appliances and cords for faults

or breaks• Ensure walk-ways are free from tripping

hazards

HAZARDS MAY INCLUDE:• Poor or inappropriate lighting• Slippery or uneven floors• Physical obstructions• Poor appliance maintenance• Inadequate heating and cooling devices• Inappropriate footwear and clothing

Making the environment safe and comfortable

RECOGNISING AND REPORTING SIGNS OF GRIEF

Support workers need to be able to recognise the signs

of grief and work out ways to support

those experiencing grief

STAGES OF GRIEF

STAGE WHAT IT MEANS

Denial • Denial is the first stage of grief. • Person may state "I feel fine."; "This can't be

happening, not to me.“ • In case of a dying person, he/she may deny

the fact that he/she is going to die. • This step is more profound in people who

are dying in young age with diseases like cancer.

Anger • Second stage of grief is anger. • The person is angry about the loss. They try

to find reasons to explain the loss. • They may ask questions like "Why me? It's

not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; "Who is to blame?"etc.

Bargaining Bargaining is the third stage of grief. The person may try to make deals with themselves or others. They may feel that if they do or promise something, then what they have lost may come back. You can hear them saying statements like "Just let me live to see my children graduate."; "I'll do anything for a few more years."; "I will give my life savings if..."

Depression Depression is the fourth stage of grief. The person may feel that they don't care for anything any more. Signs of depression can include sleeping a lot, not being able to sleep, not getting out of bed, not talking to others, not eating well or not going out/ socializing. These are depicted in statements like "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die... What's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?" etc.

Acceptance Acceptance is the last stage of grief. The person begins to accept the loss they have felt and adapt to it.You may hear them say "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it. Our aim should be to help people achieve this last stage by providing support and comfort.

STAGES OF GRIEF

MANIFESTATIONS OF

GRIEF

• Shock• Emotional release• Physical stress• Panic• Guilt• Hostile and destructive behavior• Lack of interest and apathy

USING APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATIONSTRATEGIES

WHEN DEALING WITH GRIEF AND LOSS

• As a support worker, you may get to know the people you support quite well.

• They may come to trust you and feel comfortable talking to you.

• They may talk to you about their feelings of grief when they have experienced a loss.

• It is useful to remember that grief can last a short time or a very long time.

USING COMMUNICATION SKILLS

If someone wants to talk to you about their fears and feelings, use your talking and listening skills, including:• Being courteous• Showing empathy• Not judging people• Watching and active listening• Respecting differences

PROVIDING CLIENTS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORK WITH RELEVANT INFORMATION

• Your clients may need more support to help cope with loss and grief.

• They may need professional assistance to help them cope but are unable to find the right support service.

• They may have someone in their support network who can help them find and contact support services.

A clients support network may include:• Their advocate• Family members• Support workers• Friends• Clergy• Veteran associations

PROVIDING CLIENTS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORK WITH RELEVANT INFORMATION

IHNA offers qualifications in aged care, disability and nursing. Go to http://www.ihna.edu.au to kick start your health career.

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