The wide array of duties that a home care aide performs can mean that sometimes he or she will come across safety concerns. As a home care franchise owner, it is important for you or your manager to devise and implement policies and procedures necessary for the safety of both the field staff and the clients of your home care business. Careful employee assessment is necessary to ensure that your field staff is qualified and capable of dealing with any safety issues which may arise, and careful patient assessment procedures should be employed to ensure that the client is receiving the level of care he or she requires. Here are some safety considerations your non-medical home care franchise employees may encounter.
Personal Safety
Non-medical home care workers must first protect themselves before they can adequately care for others. This includes being trained in proper body mechanics to safely move and lift patients without injury to themselves or the patient. Home aides must wear proper clothing and shoes, and should be provided with gloves and masks. They should be cautious in unfamiliar neighborhoods and when working late at night.
Patient Health Issues
Aides who are responsible for helping with medication management must ensure each patient receives the correct medications on time. They also must protect their patients from common home injuries, like falls and burns, so any spills must be cleaned up and careful monitoring of any electrical or flammable appliances must be observed. If an aide suspects that a patient is experiencing more serious health problems than he or she is trained to handle, the health problems should be reported to the patient’s family or primary medical professionals. Confidentiality is especially important when discussing a patient’s health, and patient health information must never be communicated to anyone who isn’t authorized to receive it.
By devising and implementing appropriate safety policies and procedures, you can reduce the chances of accidents or problems in your home care business. Properly trained employees and a good management and support team are vital to keeping your business running smoothly and safely.
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