Home Health Aide On The Go In Service Lessons Vol 2 Issue 8 Dealing With Behavior Problems

This lesson on Dealing with Behavior Problems includes a complete training packet. Each in-service packet takes approximately one hour to complete and fully meets the Medicare in-service training requirements. As aides need training, you can make as many copies as you want - there's no restriction when used with aides assigned from your office location. Remember that Home Health Aides must have 12 hours of in-service training every year. LESSON OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to: * Identify three behaviors that may reflect alterations in cognitive or emotional status * List two warning signs of impending physical aggression * Name three measures to take when dealing with patients with behavior problems * Name two reasons for behavior problems. OVERVIEW Mental disorders causing behavior problems are very common. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that one in five adults in the United States suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Of the ten leading causes for disability, four of them are mental disorders. In addition to the diagnosable mental disorders, patients may suffer acute anxiety following surgery or a major illness. Therefore, many homecare patients have some degree of alteration in mental processes or behaviors that may interfere with the goals of the medical and nursing treatment. Often the behavior problems diminish the patient's ability to achieve optimal day-to-day functioning. Working with patients with behavior problems is challenging to home health aides. While their basic curriculum included emotional needs and ways to work with patients, they often feel somewhat ill-at-ease when patients display inappropriate or hostile behavior. Many aides are fearful of saying or doing the wrong thing. The fact that they are often alone with patients in their homes can add to the discomfort in working with patients who have behavior problems. This in-service is designed to explain some common behavior problems encountered in homecare patients. It provides tips for dealing with these patients with the goal of increasing the aide's comfort level.