The Role of Support Workers in Assisting Seniors With Everyday Home Activities

Aged care has become increasingly popular in the last few years. There are many retirement homes for seniors today, with lots of aged care services to provide. But there are still seniors who prefer to remain in their homes and live their lives privately. This can be hard to do but that's why there are residential support workers.

Residential support workers help older persons to live independently. They help them with various household tasks and also provide emotional support that allows them to live their everyday lives without stress. This way, seniors can maintain their independence and still enjoy a normal life.

Let us discuss the various services that supportive workers provide to help older persons live independently.

1.Personal Care and Daily Living Services

Due to mobility issues or cognitive loss, seniors may find it more difficult to take care of their own personal needs. It is the duty of a support worker to help them take care of these personal requirements. These needs include:

·Bathing

·Brushing

·Dressing

·Grooming

·Using the toilet.

·Cooking

·Cleaning

·Eating

·Getting in and out of bed

·Using their mobility aids

·Attending to their pets, etc.

Overall, aged care support workers provide personalized care that is tailored to take care of individual needs in the most convenient way possible.

1.Health Monitoring and Medication Management

Seniors suffer from a variety of health problems ranging from physical to emotional health challenges. A support worker has to monitor and report the health status of their care receivers. In collaboration with other health providers, the support worker can discover early signs of health issues that could deteriorate into a more complicated one.

Residential support workers observe issues in seniors relating to mobility, communication, eating or mental disorders. This helps in providing better health care support to the seniors.

Sixty percent of adults over the age of 65 years take at least 5 medications; 12% use at least 10. As such, there is hardly a case of aged care without a medication routine. A support worker has to ensure that the senior in their care takes their medication as recommended.

For seniors who are unwilling to take their medication, the support worker is to find a way to convince them to do so. You are also to report any side effects from the medication to the healthcare provider for necessary measures to be taken.

2.Emotional Support and Companionship

This is perhaps the most important role of a residential support worker. Seniors tend to get lonely and isolate themselves. This could be a result of long-term trauma or the loss of loved ones over the years. These events could have a devastating effect on the senior that if left unchecked could lead to mental issues.

The support worker should be able to provide the necessary emotional support to the seniors. This will help them communicate better and share their feelings. It’s a therapeutic technique to help process emotional stress, too. Working with a senior who doesn't share their emotions can be hard as you can not determine how best to help them.

3.Ensuring a Safe Living Environment

The security of seniors is important. This is because they may be unable to protect themselves in the face of danger. An aged care support worker ensures that the senior is as safe as possible.

The safety of your care receiver goes beyond protecting them from outsiders. It also involves protecting them from family members who may pose a threat to them. There have been cases of family members who assault seniors. They could steal from them, cause them physical pain or even swap their medication.

The support worker makes sure any of these don't happen and that the senior is in good condition at all times. You are to report cases of assault on the seniors or break-ins. Anything at all that may make the senior restful should be addressed promptly.

4.Nutritional Support

Age comes with many health issues that require selective food consumption. Seniors who suffer from diseases like diabetes, hypertension or food allergies should not be allowed to handle their meals alone. The support worker is to shop for the right groceries, prepare the meal adequately and ensure a satisfactory intake.

A support worker also assists seniors who have difficulty with eating on their own. Support workers monitor food intake to ensure the older person is eating enough and staying hydrated. All these steps aid in enhancing overall health and preventing malnutrition complications.

5.Mobility Assistance

Seniors who have mobility impairment will find it difficult to achieve independent living. For this, support workers are charged with helping them move around the house with ease and with the least risk of accidents. For seniors who have mobility aid, the support worker helps by ensuring that it is in good condition always and that the senior is not having any form of trouble using it.

In a situation where the senior is receiving physiotherapy care, the support worker also helps with simple exercises to boost recovery. By helping your care receiver regain or maintain mobility, you reduce your workload and bring them closer to achieving independent living.

6.Communication and Advocacy

Support Workers act as a bridge between seniors, especially those with communication impairment and the public. You are charged with answering calls and replying to letters or texts if they can't for some reason. The support worker also helps the elderly with the use of their hearing aids to facilitate communication.

This is a vital role because it gives the seniors access to their medical practitioners, family members and other people in the community. It's through adequate communication that they can manage their medical appointments and participate better in their support groups if applicable.

7.Specialized Care for Cognitive Impairments

In the case of seniors with cognitive impairments, you have the duty of helping them navigate their daily lives. How they go through their daily activities would be solely based on you. This means that you need a routine which would help them know what to do and when to do them.

In addition, you need to encourage them to be more communicative through discussion sessions. You should also encourage them to participate in support groups. It helps get them to open up more and socialize as well.

Tips For Providing Better Aged Care Support

It is a huge responsibility to be a support worker, especially when you are working with the elderly. It can be too much if you do not know how to do it. Here are some tips on how to perform better as an aged support worker.

Work with a Routine

This makes your job easy. Have a daily routine for all activities. The senior should know what time is for having meals, taking medication and for personal hygiene. This reduces stress and anxiety on the job. A routine is also beneficial to the care receiver as it guides their daily activities, offering them a better-organized living.

Encourage Independence

Independent living is the primary objective of the support program. It is designed to help seniors live a stable life without having to depend on family members or being taken into senior homes. As such, they should always have that sense of responsibility by being active participants in carrying out daily activities.

You can do this by letting them choose meals, what to wear or what TV show to watch. Even if they are not doing them on their own, giving them the autonomy to make these decisions gives them a sense of responsibility.

Be Patient

Patience is the key to having a healthy relationship with your care receiver.

Tasks may take longer for seniors. Don’t rush or show frustration. Allow time for them to speak, move, or complete activities. Speak calmly and clearly. Use gentle reminders instead of forceful instructions. Patience helps maintain dignity and builds trust.

Ensure Safety

Prevent accidents before they happen.  Keep paths free of clutter and well-lit. Watch out for any signs of confusion, dizziness or instability and take proactive measures to manage them.

Keep Records

Document medications, appointments, mood changes, and incidents. Track eating habits and fluid intake. Keep a log of any falls, confusion, or health concerns. Clear records help identify patterns and support better medical care. Share this information with family or healthcare teams when needed.

Stay Engaged

Talk regularly, even if conversations are simple. Read, play music, or take short walks together. Hobbies like knitting, puzzles and pottery help improve seniors' cognitive reasoning. Also, being present matters as much as the activity itself.

Collaborate With Healthcare Providers

Establish good relationships with doctors, nurses, and therapists who work with your care receiver. Attend appointments and ask questions. Inform them of observations about behaviour, medication side effects, or physical changes. Follow care plans and inform providers about changes in routine or condition.

Common Mistakes To Avoid As A Residential Support Worker

• Not Respecting Boundaries

Do not get too personal with the seniors in your care. Establish a professional boundary. Respect their privacy, space, and choice. Overstepping the boundary may make them uncomfortable and reduce trust. Nevertheless, there is a need to find a balance between being professional and creating a personal connection with seniors in your care.

• Lack of proper communication

Do not assume that the senior understands you. Speak slowly and use simple words. Repeat or rephrase if need be. Poor communication can lead to confusion and mistakes.

• Ignoring Individual Care Plans

Every care receiver is different with their own needs and desires. Don't assume there is a standard care routine. Find out the specific needs of the care receiver and provide them the best way you can.

• Rushing Through Tasks

Don’t treat care tasks as a checklist. Rushing can cause errors, accidents, or missed details. Perform every task with care and intention. You need to see your job as a commitment to the fostering of the senior's life. As such, you must be dedicated and ready to do all you can to make a positive difference in the senior's life.

• Neglecting Documentation

Never forget to log in important information. Omitting records of medication, incidents, or behaviour changes can impact future care and decision-making.

• Over-Assisting Clients

Avoid doing things for clients they can do themselves. Too much help undermines the goal of your duty as a support worker which is to help the senior achieve independent living. Always encourage self-care where possible. Allow them to do the little things they can under your supervision.

• Not being Proactive

Emergencies in seniors are usually tricky. Anything can happen in a split second putting their life at risk. That is why you have to be spontaneous in Identifying and mitigating any risk factors. Issues like changes in mood, mobility, or appetite must be addressed straight away before they become big issues.

• Disregarding Safety Protocols

The most important thing in your mind should be the well-being of the senior in your care. Never neglect the safety checks or steps no matter how much hurry you are in. Ensure you eliminate any chance of an accident to the barest minimum by conducting frequent checks on areas of possible harm like the bathroom and stairs.

• Not Asking for Help

Teamwork is important in residential care. There is nothing wrong with reaching out for help when you have doubts or questions about the job. You are advised to talk over challenges with your agency or the senior's family members.

• Bringing Personal Issues to Work

Leave personal stress outside the workplace. Seniors and residents deserve your full attention and a calm, positive environment. Don't raise your voice at them out of anger and frustration. It kills their disposition to share their concerns with you. Your mood also affects theirs. Always try to put up a smiley face and do your duties with utmost enthusiasm.

Conclusion

Providing for the everyday needs of seniors is a demanding role that support workers must take up. They provide emotional care and physical assistance, allowing such elders to lead independent lives. Considering their vital role in caring for seniors, it is important to make the best choice of a support worker. You can visit Support Network for more details on choosing the right support worker and where to find them.