Home Health Aide On The Go In Service Lessons Vol 9 Issue 9 Creating A Safe Home Environment

One of the most important roles that the home health aide can fulfill is to help promote a safe home environment for the patient. The home health aide must report any safety hazards to the nurse in charge of the patient's care. All staff have the responsibility of keeping the patient safe from harm, but it is often the home health aide that is the first to see a problem. This in-service lesson will provide an overview of the three key elements of home safety: understanding and using the principles of body mechanics, assessing the home for accident-prevention opportunities, and recognizing elder abuse and/or neglect that may be evident in the home setting. LESSON OBJECTIVES After completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to: Name the most common accident in the home and three ways to help prevent this accident Define three key aspects of proper body mechanics that help prevent injury to the home health aide or the patient Identify the elements of maintaining a clean home environment and reducing the risk of accidents in the home Identify typical signs of elder abuse and what the role of the home health aide is if potential abuse is occurring in the home setting Contents of this lesson: A clearly written fact sheet A 10-question post-test to measure understanding of the subject matter An answer sheet with a place for the instructor's comments and signature An illustrative, homecare-specific case study Suggested supplemental learning activities An attendance log and certificate of completion