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Home Health Aide On The Go In Service Lessons Vol 3 Issue 5 Patient Complaints
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Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 3, Issue 5: Patient Complaints by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 3, Issue 5: Patient Complaints written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Patient Complaints 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 After completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to: * List two reasons patient complaints are significant *Name two types of complaints patients may discuss with home health aides *Describe the actions to take when a patient complains, and *State the purpose of the toll-free hotline number. LESSON OVERVIEW Home health aides typically spend more time with patients than do other providers and their interaction is somewhat less formal. For those reasons, patients often discuss concerns about the agency with the aides. Aides are not likely to report such concerns if they fail to recognize the serious nature of them. The result can be an unhappy patient who calls the state to register a formal complaint against the agency. The patients' rights section of the Conditions of Participation indicate that each patient has a right to voice grievances and must not be subjected to discrimination for doing so. Further, the homecare agency must investigate any patient complaints, documenting both the existence and resolution of the complaint. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) added new requirements for patients' rights related to confidentiality, including another avenue for filing complaints against a homecare agency. The purpose of this in-service is to provide additional information to home health aides regarding patient complaints - how to recognize them, and what to do about them.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 5, Issue 6: Aide/Patient Conflicts by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 5, Issue 6: Aide/Patient Conflicts written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Aide/Patient Conflicts 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: Better understand why patients may exhibit difficult behavior List techniques to handle difficult patients, and Explain the importance of reporting and documenting events regarding difficult patients. OVERVIEW For the most part, home health patients are pleasant and welcoming to the presence of home health aides, and are eager to do what it takes to get better. Occasionally, however, the home health aide will experience a conflict due to behavioral issues with the patient. A patient may be having a hard time learning to live with a disease or adjusting to the lifestyle changes an injury or disease requires. The patient may take out these frustrations on the caregiver. The patient may be resistant or bitter and even, at times, aggressive. The patient may also have mental status changes directly related to disease or to aging. Instead of reacting negatively and making the situation worse, a home health aide can use techniques to build a more solid, trusting relationship with the patient. Understanding the potential causes of the behavior helps aides know how to respond effectively. This inservice looks at some of the possible reasons a patient may be difficult and offers tips on dealing with such patients.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 5, Issue 3: Heart Failure by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 5, Issue 3: Heart Failure written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Heart Failure 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 signs and symptoms of heart failure List two ways to tell if the patient may be going into heart failure, and Explain the importance of reporting signs and symptoms to the clinician or supervisor. OVERVIEW Heart failure can occur at any age. Nearly five million Americans are living with heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. One in 100 people over the age of 65 have heart failure. Men are more commonly affected than women, and African-Americans are affected more often than Caucasians. Heart failure is becoming more common because people live longer, and certain risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and a high-fat diet, are increasing. Many patients seen by home health agencies have a diagnosis of heart failure. It is, therefore, essential that home health aides have a basic understanding of both the problems associated with heart failure as well as their role in caring for these patients.Further, heart failure is often the reason for patients going back to the hospital after a short stay at home. Proper care at home may help your agency's patients avoid unnecessary rehospitalizations.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 5, Issue 9: Safe Transfers by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 5, Issue 9: Safe Transfers written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Safe Transfers 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: Describe different types of movement with which an aide may assist, the risks of injury, and safe methods for carrying out the movement. Identify the primary type of injury an aide might experience when transferring or lifting patients, and List three types of equipment an aide might use to help transfer or lift a patient. OVERVIEW Back injuries are the major cause of work related injury and lost work for health care workers. Home health aides are particularly prone to such injuries, because their work with patients involves frequent lifting and moving. Their work is also likely to be with the most dependent patients. Since movement is part of every activity, its risk is often overlooked. Following simple guidelines and maintaining awareness can make a big difference in patient and employee outcomes. Good body mechanics, maintaining a safe environment, and knowledge of appropriate equipment can help protect the patient as well as the aide. This in-service offers a summary of each of those, as well as practical guidance on the aide's role.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 7, Issue 5: Ethics and the Home Health Aide by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 7, Issue 5: Ethics and the Home Health Aide written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Ethics and the Home Health Aide 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: Define the term "ethical" State three ethical standards Explain the process for making ethical decisions, and Describe three signs of ethical problems in the homecare workplace. OVERVIEW Health care workers face ethical issues in every setting. This is especially true in the home, where the independence of both the patient and the care providers, along with limited supervision, make identifying and dealing with ethical issues a challenge. For home health aides, ethical issues in the home may be due to patient care concerns, patient choice, family involvement, and the aide's personal involvement and compliance with agency policies and laws. To understand the risk involved and act responsibly, the aide must have an understanding of ethics and be able to recognize and report potential ethical issues. This in-service provides an in-depth look at ethics, ethical issues in the home, and the home health aide's role in preventing or resolving these problems.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 8, Issue 7: The Angry Patient by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 8, Issue 7: The Angry Patient written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2009-04-14 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Dealing with an Angry Patient 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.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 6, Issue 5: The Home Environment by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 6, Issue 5: The Home Environment written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on The Home Environment 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: Describe three methods for improving safety in the kitchen Explain three ways to make a home safe for patients, and State three things that attract burglars. OVERVIEW Home health aides care for patients with many different diseases and needs. However, one thing applies to all patients: the need for a safe and effective home environment that allows for proper recovery. While the nurse or physical therapist may conduct a home safety assessment for patients, it is often the home health aide who must observe and report changes in the environment that could affect patient safety. In addition, aides are often responsible for preparing meals for patients. Given that many home fires start in the kitchen while cooking, it is important that aides know the basics of fire prevention. This in-service reviews the home environment and ways to keep it safe for patients. It specifically outlines ways to prevent fires, falls, carbon monoxide poisoning, and burglaries. Finally, this in-service covers methods to improve home safety for visually impaired patients.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 1, Issue 6: Observing, Recording, and Reporting by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 1, Issue 6: Observing, Recording, and Reporting written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Observing, Recording, and Reporting 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: * List three methods of observing patients * Identify the differences between objective and subjective reporting * List four patient observations which must be recorded and reported, and * Recognize the importance of knowing what to report. LESSON OVERVIEW One of the Conditions of Participation (COP), §484.36, addresses home health aide services. A frequently cited deficiency is in the Standard: Assignment and duties of the home health aide, §484.36(c). The State Operations Manual indicates that surveyors should always make at least one home visit to observe a home health aide providing direct service. In addition, the surveyor may question the aide informally and will certainly review records of patients receiving home health aide services. The Standard: Coordination of patient services is another problematic area frequently cited during surveys. The standard in §484.14(g) mandates that all personnel providing services maintain liaison to ensure coordination of care and that the clinical record establishes that effective interchange and reporting of patient care does occur. A lack of documentation by home health aides frequently contributes to deficiency in this standard. The Interpretive Guidelines gives specific guidance to surveyors to look for documentation by home health aides in the clinical record describing significant information or changes in the patients' conditions and to whom these changes were reported. As agencies struggle to provide the highest quality, most cost-effective care for patients in the Prospective Payment System (PPS), the importance of observation and reporting by home health aides has taken on even greater importance. Patient problems need to be identified and acted upon as quickly as possible. It is likely that the home health aide spends more time with the patient than any other discipline and thus is more likely to note changes in the patient sooner. The subject of observing, recording, and reporting should be addressed frequently with them.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 8, Issue 11: The Homecare Team by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 8, Issue 11: The Homecare Team written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2009-04-14 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on The Homecare Team 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.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 6, Issue 9: Effective Documentation by : HCPro
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 6, Issue 9: Effective Documentation written by HCPro and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Effective Documentation 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: Understand the importance of accurately documenting patient care Describe his or her role in the documentation process Explain the relationship between documentation and the plan of care, and Document patient care clearly and according to regulations. OVERVIEW The patient's clinical record is the primary source of information regarding a patient's care. Caregivers and agencies use it as a record of the care the health care team provides. It is not only a home health aide's source of instruction, but it is also an aide's tool for documenting care provided. As such, it is important that aides know what documentation is required and the best way to describe that information. This in-service discusses the aide's role and documentation reasons, tips, and examples, and includes a short grammar review.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 3, Issue 3: Personal Protective Equipment by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 3, Issue 3: Personal Protective Equipment written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Personal Protective Equipment 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 After completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to: * Define the term "asepsis" * Identify at least four occasions when gloves must be worn, and * Name three different types of personal protective equipment. LESSON OVERVIEW Information about bloodborne pathogens and infectious disease is provided to all home health aides during orientation and on a regular basis afterward. The sessions include a lot of information; use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is only one component. Home health aides must be proactive in obtaining and carrying necessary PPE. As a result, they are not always compliant with using PPE when it's called for. When they fail to use PPE appropriately every single time, they are putting themselves and others at risk of infection. The purpose of this in-service program is to emphasize the importance of PPE. It includes indications for use and a discussion of the possible negative outcomes for failing to be fully compliant.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 3, Issue 12: HIV Infection by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 3, Issue 12: HIV Infection written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Renal Disease 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 After completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to: * Describe two major functions of the kidneys * Name the two leading causes of kidney failure * Identify two observations home health aides should report, and * List two treatment options for patients with end-stage renal disease. LESSON OVERVIEW About 7.4 million adults in the United States have physiological evidence of kidney disease. Nearly 100,000 of them are diagnosed with renal failure each year. Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of renal failure, with more than 40% of new cases attributable to diabetes. Hypertension causes more than 15,000 new cases of kidney failure each year, making it the second most common cause. Both diabetes and hypertension are common among homecare patients so it is not surprising that home health aides are often assigned to patients with renal failure. The purpose of this in-service is to educate home health aides about renal disease and to provide information about caring for affected patients.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 3, Issue 2: Patients with Arthritis by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 3, Issue 2: Patients with Arthritis written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Patients with Arthritis 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 After completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to: * Name two different types of arthritis * List three factors that contribute to arthritis pain, and * Describe three ways home health aides can help patients with arthritis. LESSON OVERVIEW According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), arthritis affects about one of every three adults, making it one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. It is the nation's leading cause of disability. Homecare patients are very likely to have arthritis, and even when it may not the primary diagnosis for homecare, it is often the reason the patient requires a home health aide. Therefore it is very important for home health aides to understand this condition, and to know how to care for arthritic patients. The purpose of this in-service is to educate aides about arthritis and to provide information about the care of affected patients.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 2, Issue 5: Activities of Daily Living and Your Role by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 2, Issue 5: Activities of Daily Living and Your Role written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Activities of Daily Living and Your Role 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: * Name three core activities that are part of ADLs. *List two reasons patients need assistance with ADLs. * Name three techniques for assisting patients to improve their ability to perform ADLs. OVERVIEW While there is some variation, there are commonly six activities considered to be the activities of daily living (ADLs). They are feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, and mobility. Studies indicate that the prevalence of personal assistance needs increases with age and by age 65, 4.1% of the total population in the United States require help in one or more ADL. The prevalence is much higher among homecare patients. When home health aide visits are ordered in homecare, it is almost always to assist with ADLs. Historically, except for patients receiving therapy services, most home health aides were assigned to assist with personal care with little emphasis placed on helping patients achieve greater independence in performing ADLs. Home health aides themselves often viewed their roles as providing direct care, not in promoting greater independence. The benchmarking capabilities of the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) reports provide agencies with comparative data on patient improvement in performance of ADLs. The data have helped agencies develop quality improvement activities aimed at increasing independence levels of patients. Home health aides are crucial to success in this goal.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 5, Issue 7: Heart Surgery Patients by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 5, Issue 7: Heart Surgery Patients written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Heart Surgery Patients 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: Verbalize a basic knowledge of common surgical procedures of the heart List unique care considerations for heart surgery patients, and Explain the importance of reporting and documenting events regarding heart surgery patients. OVERVIEW Over 660,000 heart surgeries are performed each year to treat the more than 70 million Americans who are affected by cardiovascular disease (CVD). Home health aides may be assigned to care for patients recovering from heart surgery. Patients will have physical as well as mental limitations after surgery. They will require lifestyle changes. It is important for a home health aide to have a basic understanding of the most common heart surgeries and how to care for these patients so care can be effective. This in-service offers an overview of common heart surgeries and recommends methods for addressing the unique care needs of heart surgery patients.
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 10, Issue 3: Discharge to Community by : Paula Long
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 10, Issue 3: Discharge to Community written by Paula Long and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2011-01-19 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Home Health Aide On-the-Go In-service Vol 10, Issue 3, Discharge to Community OVERVIEW Patient discharge preparation is a crucial element in completing a successful transition of care. By using their relationship with the patient to encourage adherence to the plan, home health aides play a valuable role in getting the patient ready for discharge. This in-service outlines the role aides play in the discharge process and details how they can promote patient self-management skills, as well as obedience to diet, medication, and exercise regimens. LESSON OBJECTIVES After completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to: Describe his or her role in preparing the patient for discharge Identify patient self-management skills Describe specific activities of daily living (ADL) the patient/caregiver must master safely prior to discharge Identify and discuss expected patient outcomes prior to discharge 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
Book Synopsis Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 1, Issue 5: Preventing Falls in the Home by :
Download or read book Home Health Aide On-The-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 1, Issue 5: Preventing Falls in the Home written by and published by Beacon Health, a Division of Blr. This book was released on 2007-12-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lesson on Preventing Falls in the Home 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 four variables that increase the likelihood of falls * List three common hazards in the home that may lead to falls * Explain the actions to take when a patient falls in the home. LESSON OVERVIEW According to multiple studies, nearly a third of all people who are over the age of 65, and who live at home, fall. Among those who do fall, half will fall again. A previous fall seems to be a big predictor of the likelihood of another fall. There are many factors that predispose people to falls. These include the use of assistive devices, hazards within the home, chronic illnesses, problems with gait and balance, urinary incontinence, and visual impairments. Most homecare patients receiving home health aide services are in categories which show them to be at high risk for falling. Emergent care for injury caused by fall or accident in the home is one of the adverse event outcomes reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to be evaluated by homecare agencies and to be benchmarked against agencies. It is incumbent on all homecare agencies to take measures to reduce the risk of falling. The topic of falls is important for home health aides for many reasons, including the fact that they typically spend more time in the home than other disciplines. Patients are more likely to demonstrate their normal behavior to the aides than to the professionals. There are measures that can decrease the risk of falls in the home. Home health aides can take steps to make living areas safer for patients in addition to reporting problem areas to the nurses and therapists.
