The Wisconsin technical colleges have a series of 80 training videos online (Lessons 1 - 80)
that can be useful for caregivers. [http://deptets.fvtc.edu/nursing/ ]The series is geared towards
training aides in hospitals and the like, but the techniques and
precautions apply to home care as well.
These
are classroom-type lessons, so the style might be a bit tedious for casual
viewers. Even so, the lessons are organized well, and you can pick
your subjects.
Several
of the video lessons can be especially informative for those who have loved ones in
care facilities. So often, I am discouraged by the actual practices in
nursing homes or even hosptals that seem wonderful to the casual
observer. They remind me of a friendly, personable mechanic who
shouldn't be touching your car.
I'm
not alone in this. This month's Consumer Report magazine includes a
survey of patients in hospitals, and of nurses in those same
hospitals. The survey highlighted the differences between what
patients were concerned about - with the care level, facility, and all - compared to what their nurses thought they should have been concerned about. The nurses considered the lack of coordination among the providers (communication) and deficiencies in hand-washing discipline to
be the two most significant things that the patients should have been
worried about. Very few of the patients picked up on these, especially
the hand-washing.
All this leads to a seemingly simple video topic - Lesson 22 Bed Making.
[http://deptets.fvtc.edu/nursing/l22_Bedmaking.WMV] If you watch the video, at least the first half, you can't help but
notice the emphasis on sanitary practices necessary for even this
ordinary task. Next time you are in a hospital or long term care
facility, observe the bed making. Watch the details. This is one,
just one, small indication of the quality of care and attention to safe
practices in the facility.
I'm
impressed when I see tasks like this being done to proper standards.
You should be, too. If you see that the staff attends to every detail,
as these lessons will explain, compliment them and their supervisor.
If you see short-cuts, however, be concerned. Friendly faces (at least
in your presence) don't make up for lack of good practices.
Again,
the Bed Making procedures are just an example. All the procedures laid
out are important, of course. A carpenter friend once said that his
boss had job applicants make a quick set of saw horses in the
interview. The boss could tell all he needed to know from that. Bed
making is something like that. Watch the video, and you'll see what I
mean.
Gertrude
http://eldercarenotebook.blogspot.com/