Skip to main content
Medicine LibreTexts

Introduction and How to Use This Book

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    67782

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Home health services are those which are provided within the comforts of the home setting to help people avoid hospitalization or skilled nursing facility placement while they recover from illness, injury, or disability. Home health care may also be provided to people who suffer from chronic illnesses, those who have cognitive or physical disabilities or those who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Home Health Aide and Personal Care Aide are two of the fastest growing occupations. This text will provide you with the background necessary to begin working toward a career in the home care field.

    This course is intended as a self-study course for those interested in exploring a career as a Home Health Aide or Personal Care Aide. This Open Educational Resource (OER) consists of 12 chapters which provide an overview of the responsibilities of the home health care worker. It includes the concepts and skills involved in working with patients with mental illness, developmental, and physical disabilities throughout the lifespan from infancy to death. Topics covered include nutrition, food planning, budgeting, safety, infection control, basic first aid skills, the use of proper body mechanics, and the provision of personal care. The text includes reading materials, interactive games, quizzes, and videos. This text will help introduce those interested in pursuing a career in the home health field to the basic knowledge and skill competencies required of a Home Health Aide and Personal Care Aide.

    This text is divided into 12 chapters. Throughout the text you will find numerous self-check activities to help you assess your understanding of course content. These activities are available in interactive and text-based formats. This resource is designed to be used as a stand-alone text book to provide you with information about home health care. It may also be used along with completion of the Foundations for Assisting in Home Care course on the Coursera website. You can read content within the Coursera course and complete self-check activities and interactive games within this OER. If you are using this OER but wish to obtain a certificate of completion, you must return to the Coursera course in order to complete the post-chapter and final course exams. This text may also be utilized in home health aide/personal care aide programs in a variety of ways. Programs may elect to have students complete the Coursera course in preparation of beginning their program to obtain a certificate of completion or may decide to use this OER as their program text or as supplemental materials for their course.

    Chapter Contents

    Chapter 1: This chapter focuses on what home care is, the history of home care, and who is part of the home care team. You will be introduced to the variety of tasks a Home Health Aide/Personal Care Aide may perform and the important role they play on the home care team.

    Chapter 2: This chapter has three sections. The first section focuses on the physical and psychological needs of human beings, and the influence culture has on the behavior, values, and health care practices of people. In the second section, you will you will learn how to effectively communicate with and develop a positive working relationship with patients. You will also learn how to properly document care provisions. In the final section, you will learn the types of and signs of abuse and how to protect patient rights, such as the right to privacy and confidentiality.

    Chapter 3: This chapter addresses the special needs facing the elderly patient. You will learn how societal attitudes about aging influences the well-being and care of elderly patients. You will also learn about the physical and psychological changes that occur as people age and how to best meet the needs of the elderly patient.

    Chapter 4: This chapter focuses on the unique needs of children who receive home care services. You will learn about the physical and psychological changes that occur throughout development from infancy to adolescence. You will also learn how to help children and teens cope with stress and to develop positive coping skills.

    Chapter 5: This chapter examines what mental health and mental illness are. Specific mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia are addressed, with special focus on how to help the Home Health Aide/Personal Care Aide effectively work with people who have a mental illness.

    Chapter 6: This chapter discusses what a developmental disability is, what some of the causes are, and how functioning is affected in the person with a developmental disability. Special attention is paid to learning about intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism, and neurological impairments. You will learn how to effectively work with patients who have a developmental disability to help them be as independent as possible.

    Chapter 7: This chapter examines what a physical disability is, the various causes of physical disabilities, and the difference between a physical and developmental disability. You will learn about the special adaptations people with physical disabilities may need to make and how the Home Health Aide/Personal Care Aide can best work with people with a physical disability.

    Chapter 8: This chapter addresses the basics of nutrition. You will learn about the important role the major nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, and fats play in people’s physical well-being. You will learn how to plan nutritious meals using the USDA’s ChooseMyPlate guidelines. The various diets such as low salt, low fat, vegetarian, gluten-free, and mechanical diets for people with swallowing difficulties will be covered. You will also learn food preparation techniques and about food safety.

    Chapter 9: This chapter examines how the Home Health Aide/Personal Care Aide can help patients effectively manage their money and develop a budget. You will learn how to help a patient track expenses, and plan a budget based on their income and household expenditures. You will also learn guidelines for helping patients cut grocery, household, and energy costs.

    Chapter 10: The focus of this chapter is on the importance of and how to perform housekeeping as a Home Health Aide/Personal Care Aide. You will learn how to use proper body mechanics to prevent injury and how to develop task lists and to prioritize tasks. You will also learn about various cleaning products and how to perform specific housekeeping tasks in each room of the home, including: the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room, and how to launder clothing.

    Chapter 11: This chapter examines the types of injuries that can happen in the home, including: falls, burns, cuts, poisoning, choking, and fires. You will learn guidelines for preventing these types of injuries as a Home Health Aide/Personal Care Aide. You will learn basic first aid information for handling these types of injuries. Special attention will be paid to learning how to deal with serious medical emergencies, such as heart attacks, seizures, and strokes.

    Chapter 12: This chapter focuses on how to provide personal care for the home care patient. The importance of infection control and the role of the Home Health Aide/Personal Care Aide in preventing infection transmission is discussed. Tasks including bathing, teeth and mouth care, dressing and grooming, assisting with eating, toileting, transferring from a bed to a wheelchair, and assisting patients with the self-administration of medication are covered. You will also learn how to care for an infant during handling, feeding, and bathing. Numerous videos are available within this chapter to illustrate concepts discussed.