Direct Care Worker: Meeting the Future Need of Health Care Consumers and Employers

1. Direct Care Worker: Meeting the Future Need of Health Care Consumers and Employers Cynthia Sundstrom, RN, MS West Virginia Department of Education

2. Welcome! • Mission of the Direct Care Workforce • Develop a registry • Develop curriculum to meet family and homebound client needs • Vision All direct care workers will have knowledge, skills and empathy to work with homebound individuals and their families to provide high quality care.

3. Why Direct Care Worker • Urgent need 10,000 people a day over 65 yoa • United State Census Bureau estimates 1 million worker in the US providing personal care services in homes. • Employment of Direct Care Workers is expected to grow by 70% from 2010-2020 • West Virginia needs will only grow with our ageing population

4. Expected to Generate 1.6 million new jobs

5. West Virginia • 6000 reported working in 2009 • Many others “under table” 2009 • Home health aides providing additional care -5500

6. Registry • The In-Home Care Worker Registry is provided to assist individuals with locating qualified in-home care workers. • The Registry also provides a website for individuals and service provider agencies to list their services, qualifications and availability to provide in-home care. • This is part of an ongoing effort to assure that individuals providing in-home care services have been properly trained and are suitable to provide services to West Virginians in their homes. • http://www.inhomecare.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx

7. Developing of a State Curriculum • Roles and responsibilities of a DCW • Philosophy of Providing Direct Care • Basic principles • Independence, choice, dignity, people can learn, person-centered approach, consumer direction • Independent living and self determination • Stress dignity, choices and decision making • Client can be in charge of their own life

8. What do the Direct Care Workers do? • bedside or personal care • maintain records of client progress and services performed • reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor. • housekeeping duties • care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles. • monitor vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists. • plan, shop for, or prepare nutritious meals • Transport clients • Instruct and/or advise clients on issues such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care. • Participate in case reviews • Train family members to provide bedside care

9. Who are Direct Care Workers? • People who work in this occupation generally: • Social interests • Prefer realistic and conventional environments • (WV Strategic Compass) http://youtu.be/euIu-gsmC1U

10. What do Direct Care Workers Need To Know • Customer and personal service • Public Safety and Security • English language • Psychology • Transportation * Onet

11. DCW’s Need To Be .. • Service Oriented • Active Listening Skills • Protect Privacy • Social Perceptiveness • Critically Think • Convey information effectively • Monitor/Assess performance • Able to Maintain a safe environment • Coordinate activities and actions

12. Industries That Employ DCW

13. Who Can Teach Direct Care Worker • Registered Nurse • Attend a one day training • Different care for home vs nursing home vs acute care • Review the curriculum- teaching tools • Instructors must pass exam with 100%

14. Who Can Attend DCW Training • Student’s must be in a health science education class or attend class at a local industry provider that has a trained instructor. • Requirements for employment • Fingerprinting • Drug screen • Motor Vehicle Department Check • Health Requirements • Hepatitis B • Tine Test and others depending

15. DCW Curriculum • The no brainers • OSHA, HIPAA, Dementia Care, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Trainings (must be renewed annually)  • Curriculum • Made up of 14 modules

16. Modules • Module 1 - Introduction to Direct Care Assisting • Module 2 - Role of the Direct Care Worker • Module 3 - Consumer Rights, Ethical and Legal Issues Affecting the Direct Care Worker • Module 4 - Safety in the Home • Module 5 - Communication as a Direct Care WorkerModule 6 - Meeting Basic Human Needs using a Person Centered Approach • Module 7 - Body Systems, Diseases and Disorders

17. Modules Continued • Module 8 - Infection Control • Module 9 – Home Care and Patient/Client Mobility, Positioning and Transfer • Module 10 - Basic Direct Care Worker Skills • Module 11- Provide Care for Geriatric Patients • Module 12 - Care for the Patient with Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease • Module 13 -Death and Dying • Module 14 - Supervised Clinical Experience

18. Skills and Clinical Experience • Skill check off sheet • Use a lab to check students off prior to clincial • Make sure they do it for you at least 3 times successfully before you sign them off • Supervised Clinical Experience • Apply the theory and skills they have used • Can be intermittently spaced • Demonstrate ability to perform basic DCW skills • Provide care for the in home client

19. Certification • Complete their course • Complete test roster • Sent to WVDE • Take the exam • Provided by the Working Group • Pass the Skills Test • Provided by the Working Group • Completed and passed test roster sent to WVDE

20. Questions????