Workplace Settings Flashcards
Fixing LTC Act
Long Term Care facilities are regulated under the Fixing Long Term Care Act. This dictates staffing levels and minimum education requirements of staff, what supports must be offered and much more. It also includes the Resident’s Bill of Rights
Retirement home
A Retirement Home generally houses people over the age of 65 who require less support than provided in a LTCF. Although there are some laws dictating the management of a retirement home, they are much less restrictive that those for a LTCF. A retirement home is considered a community setting. A variety of services may or may not be provided and homecare can be received by residents residing in a retirement home. Support may be provided by guest attendants who do not require a PSW certificate, although many do prefer to hire PSWs. Duties may or may not include meal prep, housekeeping and more
Hospitals
Like a LTCF, hospitals are strictly regulated under the law. PSWs may work in a variety of hospital settings, generally assisting the nursing staff with the completion of ADLs. There may be additional duties as well depending on the job description and policies of each individual hospital. The patients are in this setting for shorter periods of time and it is not considered their home, however, you must still respect their personal space while they are there.
Group Home
Group Homes provide services for a variety of clients of various ages. Clients may have intellectual, physical or mental health disorders and are unable to live independently as a result. Each home is generally focused on clients with similar types of disability. Clients live on a regular street in a regular house with staff there to support as needed to allow the clients to live as independently as possible.
Staff in a group home generally include DSWs and PSWs, with others occasionally included based on the needs of the client in that house. Nurses do not generally work in this setting.
Assisted Living
In assisted living, clients usually have their own living space (often an apartment) with support staff on site 24 hours a day. Some clients receive regular scheduled visits for assistance with showering, meal prep or other tasks. Support staff are always on call in case additional support is required.
Home care
Home care services aim to allow people to remain independent in their own home. Generally a PSW drives from home to home throughout the day providing personal care, sometimes with household management as well. Occasionally, homecare consists of full shifts at one persons home, which minimizes the travel required, but this is not frequent.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation aims to restore function, improve function, learn new skills and prevent further disability following injury or illness. Rehab begins with entry to care by preventing further injury.
Rehab focuses on the abilities of the client and assists people to return to their highest level of both physical and psychological functioning. Often this includes the use of braces or devices to enable self-care. The PSW must be certain to use these properly and ask for assistance if they are at all uncertain.
Sympathy or pity are not appropriate in rehab. A hopeful and positive attitude is important.
Rehab services might be offered in hospitals, dedicated rehab facilities, in long term care facilities, at outpatient clinics or in the client’s own home.
Restorative Care
The goal of restorative care is to restore general functioning and maximize independence after a prolonged illness. This can be offered in multiple settings, however, the most common setting is in a LTCF
Palliative and End of Life
This is care provided to a person with a terminal illness and should begin at the time that a diagnosis is made. However, it is sometimes confused with end of life care, which is care that is provided in the final days or weeks of life.
Palliative or End of Life Care can be provided in many settings, including a hospice that specializes in only End of Life care, a hospital, a LTCF, a persons own home and more.
Acute Care
Acute Care is care that is provided over a short period of time for a new condition that will either be cured or the person will be stabilized and move into a longer term care setting if that is required. This is most often provided in a hospital setting for a period no longer than 6 months (some limit this to 3 months)
Chronic Care
Chronic care is support that is required for longer than 6 months. This can be provided through homecare, group homes, LTCFs, or if needs are even more complex, in a hospital. The setting will depend on the type of support required and additional family supports available to the client.
