Support the person to identify and acknowledge their own strengths and self-care capacity

Support the person to identify and acknowledge their own strengths and self-care capacity (PC2.1)

Promote and encouraging daily living habits that contribute to healthy lifestyle (PC3.1)

Support and assisting the person to maintain a safe and healthy environment (PC3.2)

Case Scenario 1

You are employed a personal care worker (PCA) for a Home and community care agency. Your role is to supply the minimum amount of assistance necessary however, you arebecoming increasingly concerned for the safety of one of your clients Mr. Peters and the other workers who visit the client’s home. 

Mr. Peters seems to be unaware of the potential risks and danger in his home when he regularly:

Uses electrical appliances in the bathroom while washing, or when the floor is wet

Leaves various items, eg: books, magazines, shoes, items of clothing, in doorways and on the floors of throughout his house.

Leave medications on kitchen or bathroom surfaces, where the pills are spilled out onto surfaces with the lids off.

Mr. Peters is able to manage most activities of daily living but is reluctant to socialise or go out much since his wife died a month ago.

Read the case Scenario 1 and provide a response for the following questions.

1. How can you assist Mr. Peters to identify and acknowledge his strengths and self-care capacity to establish and maintain a safe and healthy home environment for all concerned? 

2. List three things that might stop a client from managing their own care and safety and discuss what you could do, to assist and encourage Mr. Peters to develop and maintain healthy lifestyle practices and social and emotional wellbeing. 

3. Describe what support services you think would be beneficial to Mr. Peters and how you would help him access these services. 

4. If you had identified any hazards in the client’s home, list what they are who you would report these to?