Common causes of accident in the older population:

• Age;
• Medication;
• Poor mobility;
• Sensory impairment;
• Confusion or limited awareness of surrounding.

Client related safety measures:

Assessments and identifying needs.

Assessment Process: What will help the client remain in the home?

               1.    Referralinformation:

ü  Diagnosis, medical history.

ü  Other;

2.    Homevisit;

ü  Patient/family interview: self-identified, statedneeds.

3.    Psycho-social,environmental,  physicalassessment.

4.    Intuitive nature of assessment from experiencedassessors.

Living Arrangements

• Own home, apartment, assisted living
• Condition of home (clean/dirty, cluttered, safety hazards, Structural barriers,
• Bathing facilities tub, shower
• Lives with someone? Who?
• Responsible person?
• Type and Frequency of assistance needed
• Resources finances

Client’s Level of Functioning

• Functional Limitations, activities allowed, assistance needed
• Mental status and functioning: oriented, forgetful, depressed, agitated, memory, decision- making,
• Motivation
• Ability to bathe, dressing
• Toileting
• Ambulation, transferring ,
• Feeding/eating
• Transportation, shopping, money management
• Medication and equipment management

Common Needs of Home Care Clients

• Nutritional needs
• Dementia, behavioral
• Functional/mobility impairments

               1. Loss of function;

               2. Size of patient.

• Communication impairments

               1. Speech, hearing, language.

• Companionship

1.    Referralinformation:

ü  Diagnosis, medical history.

ü  Other;

2.    Homevisit;

ü  Patient/family interview: self-identified, statedneeds.

3.    Psycho-social,environmental,  physicalassessment.

4.    Intuitive nature of assessment from experiencedassessors.