2: Working Effectively with Home Care Clients
All of us have unique needs and backgrounds. We look different from each other; we have different cultural backgrounds, religions, ages, social classes, financial statuses, occupations, interests, and families. We may speak different languages. We have different values, or thoughts on what is important to us. What makes each of us the same, each human being the same as the next, is that we have the same basic physical and psychological needs. This module will explore the basic physical and psychological needs of humans. It will also look at how culture influences people’s behavior, values, and health care practices. You will gain some basic information about a variety of cultures and religions with whom you may work if you choose to pursue a career as a Home Health Aide/Personal Care Aide. During this module, you will learn a variety of Communication skills to use in working with patients, and how to best develop a positive working relationship with patients. We will also explore how to document observations and the work done with patients. Finally, you will learn about the different types of abuse , the signs to look for, and how to report suspicions of abuse. We will also discuss the importance of patient rights and how best to support the rights of patients.