East Side Neighborhood Services Presents:

Personal Care Attendant & Home Maker Training:A career opportunity to support individuals with

disabilities and seniors.

Welcome Students!American Indian Occupational Center

Sabathani Adult EducationLifeTrack Resources

Instructor:Brigette Menger-Anderson

● 15 years in social services & disabilities field.● Experienced Direct Support Professional (DSP)

● Disability Advocate● Board Member, DSPAM

● Example of how working in home care can be a rewarding, successful, honorable career!

Class Agenda Week One:

Monday May 10 th

� Welcome, Introductions, Expectations & Goals: Is your heart in it?

� PCA & Homemaker: Roles and Responsibilities.

�Person-Centered Language and Wellness. Group Activity: Perceptions & Stereotypes.

� Prep for site visit to Courage Center. History, Disabilities and Rehabilitation: What to expect & making a professional impression.

Tuesday May 11 th

� Courage Center Tour, types of disabilities and medical equipment used in Home Care.

Wednesday May 12 th

� Prep materials for Friday's skilled labs.

Thursday May 13 th

� Review homework

� Working for an Agency & State requirements. Being the best you: Recruiting employers, getting the job & keeping it!

� Group Activity: Mock interviews with peers.

� Prep materials for Friday's skilled labs.

Friday May 14 th

� Skilled Labs at AIOC:Standard Precautions, workplace safety, emergency preparedness.

Safety is important! Wear appropriate shoes, comfortable, non restrictive clothing and

remove your jewelry.

Class Agenda Week Two:Monday May 17 th

� Professional Ethics & Responsibilities

� Working with seniors

� Mental Health, Wellness and Behaviors

� Group Activity: Role Playing- How to best support people with challenging behaviors: Ensuring their dignity, safety and opportunity

Tuesday May 18 th

� Autism and working with youth.

� Economic trends & job opportunities (identifying places HHA/PCA/DSP can work).

�The importance of networking and self-investment. NADSP & DSPAM.

� Homemakers- Its more than just a cleaning job. Safety, exposure & chemicals.

�Group Activity: Safety Scenarios.

Wednesday May 19th.

�Skilled labs at AIOC

Thursday May 20 th

� Updates on legislation that affects YOU as a DSP!

�Knowledge Bowl!

� Written Test

Friday May 20 th

�Skilled lab demonstration & test-out

Why are you in this class today?

● Instructor Expectations

● Introductions:– Your expectations

for the class

– Professional goals

– Prior home care experience?

● Every class will have:● Group activities● Breaks● Homework

assignments

Classes start at 12:30, please arrive 5 minutes early and

turn all mobile devices OFF.

Background on Home Care● Home care allows the consumer to live independently in his or her own home or

familiar surroundings, long term. This has many benefits including longer maintenance of the consumers level of physical, psychological and cognitive well-being as well reduced health care costs. Therefore, home care is “Preventative Care”.

● Changes in the Health Care System within the last generation

– Hospitals have become surgical centers with short stays and more outpatient surgeries

– Nursing Homes have become rehabilitation centers for post- surgical patients.

– Assisted Living Facilities & Retirement Communities are preferred over nursing homes.

Is their going to be a long-term need for DSP's? YES!

There are more Seniors due to increased life expectancy.

State Mental Institutions were disbanded which led to the rise of group homes

More people with disabilities living independently which led to the increased need for DSPs to support them in their own homes.

Different types of Home Care Agencies:a) Home Management Companies-These are non-medical agencies that provide light housekeeping, meal preparation, socialization, companionship and transportation. They do not provide any medical assistance or help with personal cares (ADLs). This is where a homemaker would seek employment.

b) Class B or PCA Agencies-These are medical agencies that provide home management services plus personal care services (ADLs) under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or Qualified Professional/QP. This is where a PCA would seek employment

c) Class A Agencies-These are medical agencies that provide all of the services of the other two classes of home care agency as well as providing at least one of the following: nursing, PT, ST, RT, OT, nutritional services, medical social services, HHA tasks or the provision of medical supplies and equipments when accompanied by the provision of a home care service. (Examples of medical services include changing IVs, sterile dressings and feeding tubes.) A PCA and or HHA, or can would seek employment here, depending on qualifications.

Who pays for these services?

● An agency contracts with the State and /or County to receive reimbursement through the State and Federal Medical Assistance and Medicare programs.

● The agency then pays the DSP to provide the services.

● To be eligible to receive medical assistance funding, the person with the disability must meet low-income guidelines an/or be certified disabled.

● A County Public Health Nurse will do an assessment to determine the level of need for services.

Being a DSP in Home Care:

● What is a DSP?

A Direct Support Professional is any individual that provides home care services to individuals with disabilities and/or seniors.

● A DSP encompasses many home care titles:

PCA-Personal Care Attendant

● Home Maker

● HHA-Home Heath Aid

● CNA- Certified Nursing Assistant

● Support staff

● What titles have you heard?

Differences in these titles:● An individual can be a home

maker or a PCA without prior experience. Currently neither requires certification.

● Individuals who are going to be employed by an agency to provide PCA services have to take a standardized test before working. This test is taken on-line through a state website.

● HHA's & CNA's DO require certification and annual review of documented work for renewal of certification.

After successful completion of 40 hours in class participation, passing a written test and performing demonstrated hands on skills, you will have the skills to be either/both a:

● Home Maker● PCA

This class will give you the advantage over other applicants, it will also prepare you to pass the PCA State test and get you on your way to your new career!

What is a Home Maker?

A Home Maker is an individual that is employed by an agency to provide light house keeping to

individuals with disabilities and seniors.

A homemaker can be anyone 16 years or older, who can pass a criminal background check.

What does a home maker do?

Home makers go into private homes, may be employed by an assisted living facility, nursing

home, etc. and provide house cleaning supports to individuals with disabilities and seniors.

It is important to keep in mind that while we all have our “own way” of doing things, you are their

to provide services for someone and have an obligation to take direction from them.

Is it more than just cleaning?● YES! A person chooses to receive home making

services so that they can remain safe healthy and continue to live as independently as possible.

● You are providing more than a clean environment- you are ensuring that the conditions of the home are also SAFE.

● How do YOU think you could increase safety in a persons home?

● Let me give you some examples from my experiences....

● We will talk about this more, when we discuss workplace safety in more detail in a few days!

What is a PCA?● A PCA is anyone 18 years or

older (16-17 yr have to get permission from the county social worker and agency, though most agencies will not hire minors due to additional labor restrictions and insurance liabilities).

● Must be hired by a PCA agency

● Must pass a criminal background check

● Must register with the Department of Human Services to take a standardized test

● Must enroll with DHS to obtain a unique individual PCA provider number

Job Duties:● ADL's (Activities of Daily

Living)● Assistance with grooming, dressing,

eating, using the bathroom, transferring, positioning & mobility.

● IADL's (Instrumental)● Food prep/storage, light

housekeeping.

● Health-Related: Behavior support, range of motion & physical therapies (as assigned by a Dr. and under the direct supervision of a QP -Qualified Professional).

Let's get into more detail about ADL's:

1. Dressing - Application of clothing and special appliances or wraps.

2. Grooming - Basic hair care, oral cares, shaving, basic nail care, applying cosmetics and deodorant, care of eyeglasses and hearing aids.

3. Bathing - Basic personal hygiene and skin care.

4. Eating - Completing the process of eating including application of orthotics required for eating, hand washing and transfers.

5. Transfers - Assistance to transfer the person from one seating or reclining area to another.

6. Mobility - Assistance with ambulation.

7. Positioning - Assistance with positioning or turning a person for necessary care and comfort.

8. Toileting - Helping person with bowel or bladder elimination and care. This includes transfers, mobility, positioning, feminine hygiene, use of toileting equipment or supplies,

cleansing the perineal area, inspection of the skin and adjusting clothing.

Health-Related Procedures:

Under state law, a licensed health care professional may delegate health-related procedures and tasks to a personal care assistant when

the following are present:

1. Procedures and tasks meet the definition of health-related procedures and tasks.

2. A qualified professional who is a nurse trains and supervises the PCA.

3. PCA demonstrates competency to safely complete the procedures and tasks.

Examples of health-related procedures and tasks include:

• Assistance with self-administered medications• Interventions for seizure disorders, including monitoring and

observation• Range of motion to maintain a person’s strength and muscle

functioning

Observation and Redirection of Behaviors:

A PCA service may include observation of a person who:

• Has episodes of behaviors• Needs redirection to remain safe in his/her

environment (cues, prompting).

A PCA may not restrain a minor or an adult unless that individual has a documented RULE 40 which authorizes only trained, professional staff to provide therapeutic

holds and compressions- EVEN if the Parent or guardian tells you to!

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living:

A PCA may assist an adult with the following:

• Accompany to medical appointments• Accompany to participate in the community

• Assist with paying bills• Communicate by telephone and other media

• Complete household tasks integral to the PCA services

• Plan and prepare meals• Shop for food, clothing and other essential

items.

BEFORE you drive a consumer...Although a DSP can assist with transportation to/from appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. a DSP

is not supposed to drive a consumer in their own personal vehicle- DHS does not provide mileage

reimbursement to the agency and the agency (most often) does not provide reimbursement to the DSP.

If you chose to drive anyway, please know that you are (more than likely)not insured by the agency and the consumer can attempt to hold you liable for injuries

sustained in the accident!

If you drive the consumers vehicle you are BOTH responsible for ensuring proper liability coverage.

PCA Agency's offer two models of employment:

● Traditional Personal Care Provider Organizations (PCPOs)

The agency will hire, fire, train, supervise and evaluate you.

The agency will decide to send you to a consumer.

Expect wages to be lower due to more administrative & staffing responsibilities that they agency assumes responsibility for.

● PCA Choice/Consumer Directed

The agency is mostly responsible for the payroll for the PCA and handles the billing to DHS for the consumer.

The consumer is the supervisor and is responsible for hiring, firing, training, supervising and evaluating the PCA.

Wages wil be higher.

We will talk more about consumer direction in our next

class.

The Home Care Team:● Consumer- Individual with disability(s) whom chooses to have

home care services

● Responsible Party- If the consumer cannot direct their own cares and/or would like to delegate supervisory responsibilities, the RP can be selected by the consumer.

● Agency- Business (for or non-profit) that contracts with the State (DHS) to provide PCA services

● Supervisory Nurse- Mandatory supervision, required by DHS, can be a registered nurse or a qualified professional, depending on the complex medical needs of the consumer.

● Case Worker- Not all consumers have a case worker, some only have a financial worker.

● YOU, the DSP! The support staff can be a homemaker, PCA, HHA, ILS and/or Mental Health worker.

Tips to guide you...

We are all still learning, even the so-called “experts”

You can’t know it all, so be willing to learn.

Trust yourself (without being obnoxious or arrogant about it).

The individual/person comes first! They are your best teacher.

A few are naturals, most can learn and the rest are in the wrong line of work!

Do with not for whenever possible!

The most important rule:

“Nothing about ME, without ME.”

Review HANDOUT #1Home Care Bill of Rights.

Let's talk about this...after break!

The IL Movement, Consumer-Direction and Person-Centered Practices:

● Independent living, as seen by its advocates, is a philosophy, a way of looking at disability and society, and a worldwide movement of people with disabilities who proclaim to work for self-determination, self-respect and equal opportunities.

● In the context of eldercare, independent living is seen as a step in the continuum of care, with assisted living being the next step.

● With origins in the U.S. civil rights and consumer movements of the late 1960s, the Independent Living Movement grew out of the Disability Rights Movement, which began in the 1970s.

● The IL Movement works at replacing the special education and rehabilitation experts’ concepts of integration, normalization and rehabilitation with a new paradigm developed by people with disabilities themselves.

● The first Independent Living ideologists and organizers were people with extensive disabilities. Still, the movement’s message seems most popular among people whose lives depend on assistance with the activities of daily living and who, in the view of the IL Movement, are most exposed to custodial care, paternalistic attitudes and control by professionals.

● In most countries, proponents of the IL Movement claim preconceived notions and a predominantly medical view of disability contribute to negative attitudes towards people with disabilities, portraying them as sick, defective and deviant persons, as objects of professional intervention, as a burden for themselves and their families, dependent on other people’s charity.

● These images, in the IL analysis, have consequences for disabled people's opportunities for raising families of their own, getting education and work, which, in turn, result in persons with disabilities making up a large portion of the poor in any country.

● In 1972, the first Center for Independent Living was founded by disability activists, led by Ed oberts, in Berkeley, California. These Centers were created to offer peer support and role modeling, and are run and controlled by persons with disabilities.

● According to the IL approach, the example of a peer, somebody who has been in a similar situation, can be more powerful than a non-disabled professionals interventions in analyzing one’s situation, in assuming responsibility for one’s life and in developing coping strategies.

Language: Does it have power?

Avoid/Inappopriate

● The disabled, the handicapped

● Cripple, physically handicapped or wheelchair bound. These terms are patronizing.

● Spastic

● Deaf and dumb

● The Blind

● The Deaf

● Raising your voice or talking as if speaking to a child.

● Interrupting a person with a speech impairment and trying to finish sentences for them.

● Putting your hands near your mouth when communicating with someone who is Deaf or hearing-impaired.

● Looking down at a person in a wheelchair for a prolonged period

● Speaking to a disabled person’s friend or support worker when your conversation is directed at the person with a disability.

Use/Appropriate

● People with disabilities

● A person with a physical disability/impairment or wheelchair user

● A person with cerebral palsy

● A person with hearing and speech impairments

● People who are B/blind, partially sighted, visually impaired

● People who are D/deaf, hearing impaired

● Maintain your usual pitch volume and rhythm when speaking

● Listen patiently and ask for clarification if you have not understood.

● Ensure hat they have a clear view of your face

● Sit down and talk to them this makes eye contact easier and means they are not constantly craning their neck to look up at you.

● Speak directly to the disabled person

Group Activity:

● Discuss your perceptions & feelings about the following words:

– Retarded, mental illness, wheel chair bound

Now discuss your perceptions & feelings about these words:

– Developmental disability, mental health, uses a wheel chair

● Read HANDOUT #1.

● How has language, stereotypes and other peoples perceptions affected you?

● Pick three words that have a powerful meaning, either negative or positive. Talk about them.

● Does language have power? Who controls that power? Who can change perceptions?

Courage Center Tour

For People of All Ages and Abilities

● Courage Center is a Minnesota-based rehabilitation and resource center that advances the lives of children and adults experiencing barriers to health and independence. At Courage Center, we specialize in treating brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, chronic pain, autism, and disabilities experienced since birth. Founded in 1928, Courage Center is a nonprofit organization offering advanced technologies and innovation provided in part through the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors.

● Mission

Courage Center empowers people with disabilities to realize their full potential in every aspect of life.

● Vision

We are guided by the vision that one day, all people will live, work, learn and play in a community based on abilities, not disabilities.

Making a professional impression:● Be on time to leave for the tour● Turn your mobile devices off.● Do not take pictures in the facility and only

take pictures outside with your group.● No swearing, talking loud or about anything

inappropriate while on site.● Ask questions, but be respectful with language

and do not make judgments.● Be mindful that for a lot of people at the Center,

they are recently disabled and are just starting to dealing with a very different life.

Monday Night Homework:

● Write down why you want to be a DSP. If you have a story or experience that has motivated you to seek out this profession, please be ready to share it.

● Have a good night, see you tomorrow, Tuesday at 12:30pm-sharp!

● If you miss the bus for the tour, you may be dis-enrolled from the class. All 40 hours are required for completion.

Let's review homework and talk about your experience at the Courage Center

on Tuesday...

● What did you learn?● Did anything shock you, or question your way

of thinking?● Did the staff model themselves in a

professional manner? How so?● Did you talk with any of the staff or

consumers? What questions did you ask?● Could you see yourself working at Courage

Center?

A DSP position in home care can open up a new career world in health care...

● Certified Nursing Assistants● Therapy Aids● Speech, Physical & Occupational Therapists● Dietitians● Registered Nurses● Social Workers● Doctors and Surgeon Specialists● .... And so much more!

Let's discuss various disabilities:

Physical and/or visible:

● Multiple Sclerosis- MS

● Quadriplegia

● Paraplegic

● Hearing or seeing impaired

● Do you think people with only visible/physical disabilities are treated the same as people with non-visible disabilities? Why or why not?

Non-visible:● Mental Health: Depression,

Anxiety, OCD, ADD/HAD, EBD,ODD,Schizophrenia, Manic, Bi-polar, etc.

● Diabetes

● Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue/Pain

● Traumatic Brain Injury

● Read HANDOUT #2

Medical Equipment used in home care:

Mobility devices: canes, walkers, rollators and wheelchairs

Home safety and access equipment: ramps, mechanical lifts and bathroom accessories

(shower chairs, raised commode seats, grab bars, walk in showers, roll-in showers, water

temperature controls)Dietary supplements and supplies: including specialized medical nutrition supplies and fiber

productsIncontinence supplies: “chucks,”

attends/Depends, hygiene wipes, catheters, leg bags, etc.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

GLOVES & Face Masks!

What else can YOU think of?

Tuesday Night Homework:

● Talk with a friend or family member about your experience at the Courage center. Tell them you want to be a DSP and ask them what strengths they think you have that would make you a good DSP. Please be ready to share.

Review Home Work...

What strengths are needed to be a good DSP?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Wednesday: Now let's talk more about safety in the workplace...be mindful

that your place of employment is also someone's HOME.

Standard Precautions:

Please refer to HANDOUT # 9

Emergency Preparedness:

Make sure you talk with your agency and the consumer about what protocols are in place in the event of an emergency.

An emergency plan is required in each consumers care plan.

Keep in mind a few very important points:● In an emergency, the consumer may need you to help them to

safety- Are you prepared to stay and not rush to your own family and friends?

● Make sure you and the consumer have the proper clothing, supplies, food, gas, etc when driving, during bad weather storms

and in cases of a suspected epidemic.

Wednesday Night Homework :

Write down three things that you can do to get the job you want!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thursday: Now let's hear what you came up with!

Working for an Agency & State Requirements:

The 2009 Legislature requires basic training for individual PCAs. DHS is in the process of developing a PCA training module, will test it with a pilot group (determined by the PCA Worker Training Advisory Committee) in January 2010 and expects to formally implement the training module in early 2010.

The Basic Training will:• Be a free on-line course

• Contain a separate, free test-out process (registration required)• Be required for all individual PCAs

Individual PCAs may take the training or test as often as needed, but must pass:

• Before MHCP enrollment• For individual PCAs already enrolled with MHCP and affiliated with a PCPO/

PCA Choice provider, within one year after training becomes available• We will continue to notify providers as more information becomes available.

Employment requirementsAn individual who is employed as a personal care assistant must:

1. Be 18 years of age or older.2. Be employed by a PCA provider agency.

3. Initiate and clear a Criminal Background Study.4. Enroll with the DHS as a PCA once all employment criteria are met.

An individual who is employed as a personal care assistant must:1. Effectively communicate with the person and the PCA provider agency.

2. Be able to provide covered PCA services according to the person’s PCA care plan.3. Respond appropriately to the person’s needs.

4. Report changes in the person’s condition to the qualified professional.5. Maintain daily written records including, but not limited to, time sheets.

6. Complete training and orientation on the needs of the recipient within the first seven days after services begin.

7. Be supervised by the consumer or the qualified professional.

A person age 16-17 years old may be a PCA with the following additional requirements:

• Employed by only one PCA provider agency responsible for compliance with current labor laws

• Supervised by a qualified professional every 60 days

Knowledge is POWER!All PCA agencies are required to have written policies and procedures which

are accessible to the consumer and the DSP to review on an as-needed basis. You should be given an Employee Handbook or told where it can be located

on-line, at the consumers home or in the agency office.

All agencies are also required to have written contracts for services with the consumers and the DSPs they employ. YOU MUST READ THESE

CONTRACTS VERY CAREFULY.

Be aware that some agencies have tried to force DSPs into signing a NON-COMPETE. A non-compete indicates that as an employee of one agency, you

are not permitted to go and work for another agency providing the same services for a certain time frame, to do so you could be fined heavily. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SIGN a non-compete to work with a PCA agency. The agency may not wish to employ you, but take that as a sign that this employer was not

looking out for your or the consumers best interests.

If you are not sure what you are signing, ask the employer if any of these forms/contracts represent a non-compete clause. You make the final decision,

but keep in mind that most agencies cant offer you full-time employment and you may need to work with more than one agency to get the hours and wages you

need.

Four categories of PCA services are eligible for payment from Medical Assistance:

• Activities of daily living (ADLs)• Health-related procedures and tasks

• Observation and redirection of behaviors• Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)

A personal care assistant (PCA) may assist in the four categories of PCA services if the following are met:

1. PCA Care Plan describes needed assistance.

2. Training of the PCA specific to the person’s needs occurs in the first seven days of PCA service for the person.

3. Documentation of the individualized training is in the agency file.

4. PCA documents their services on the time sheet and/or other agency form.

Complete authorization for PCA services before services begin.

You must receive training based on services and supports outlined in the Care Plan:

A copy of the most current care plan must be both at the recipient’s home and in the recipient file at the provider agency. The care plan must contain each

of the following components:

• A start and end date of the care plan• Recipient demographic information including the recipient’s name and

telephone number• Emergency number, procedures and a description of measures to address

identified safety and vulnerability issues, including a backup staffing plan• The name and instructions for contacting the responsible party

• A description of the recipient’s individualized needs for assistance with activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, health-related

tasks and behaviors• Instructions and comments about the recipient’s needs for assistance and

any special instructions or procedures required• A month-to-month plan for the use of personal care assistance services

• Date and signatures of the recipient/responsible party and the QPA new PCA care plan is required annually at the time of the

reassessment.

DHS will not allow reimbursement of the following services as a PCA:

Application of restraints or implementation of procedures under Minnesota Statute, section 245.825

• Home maintenance or chore services

• Homemaker services not an integral part of assessed PCA services

• Instrumental activities of daily living for children under the age of 18

• Injections of fluid and medications into veins, muscles, or skin

• Services that are the responsibility of a residential or program license holder under the terms of a service agreement and administrative rules

• Services solely as a child care or babysitting service

• Staffing options in a residential or child care setting

• Sterile procedures

Can a PCA “pass/give” medications?Self-administered medication: Medication taken orally, by injection or insertion,

or applied topically without the need for assistance.

Health-related procedures and tasks: Procedures and tasks that can be delegated or assigned by a licensed health care professional under state law

to be performed by a PCA. A licensed health care professional may be a physician or a nurse.

A personal care assistant (PCA) may assist with medication as a health-related procedure and task. This is within the scope of the PCA service. Once

the task is delegated to the PCA, the qualified professional, who is a registered nurse, is responsible to:

• Delegate the procedure/task• Document this in the PCA care plan

• Regularly supervise the procedure/task• Train the PCA specific to the task

A PCA must follow the PCA care plan and be directed by either the:

• Person who can direct their own care or• Responsible party

A responsible party does not have to be present when the PCA assists with medication. However, the responsible party must assure the medication is set up as individual doses

and labeled with:

• Name and dosage of the medication• Time the medication is to be given

• Method to assist the person to take the medication

For any medications given as needed/intermittent (PRN) basis:1. Person must self-direct the PCA or

2. PCA must notify the responsible party before assisting with the medication.

Assistance with medication includes the following:

• Assist with opening medication• Bring the medication to the person

• Remind the person to take medication

A PCA cannot:• Determine the need for medication or evaluate the effectiveness of the medication

• Do sterile procedures• Inject fluids and medications into veins, muscles, or skin

• Make assessments• Set up medication

The PCA is responsible to document:• They complete the task on the time card

• They follow provider agency-specific policies

What about ventilator supports?A PCA may assist with tracheostomy suctioning and services to persons

dependent on a ventilator if both the following occur:

• Registered nurse, certified or licensed respiratory therapist or a physician delegates and trains on the task(s)

• Registered nurse as the qualified professional supervises the task(s)

The PCA may only perform non-sterile health-related procedures and tasks specific to the person’s need for a ventilator or tracheostomy.

PCAs must first receive:

• Individualized training about the special needs of the person and• Specialized training about health-related procedures, tasks and equipment

including ventilator operation and maintenance

All of the following people make the decision to train and approve a PCA to provide support for this health-related task:

• Person and/or responsible party• PCA provider agency

• Registered nurse as the qualified professional

Let's take a break before we talk about...Being the Best You!

Please refer to HANDOUT #4>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Now let's practice interviewing, please refer to HANDOUT #5

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Now for Thursday's Homework:Please refer to HANDOUT #6

Friday Skilled Lab:

Please refer to the OSHA CONTROLS packet.

Welcome Back! How was your weekend?

Today we are going to talk about Professional Ethics & Responsibilities, working with seniors

and having more discussion about mental health and behaviors.

Professional Ethics & Responsibilities

Please refer to HANDOUT #7>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Working with Seniors & aging:Please refer to HANDOUT #8

Mental Health & Wellness

Let's review handout #2 and talk about various disabilities under the mental health and/or non-

visible disability category.

One of the most important things you can do when supporting a person who requires

assistance with mental wellness and recovery... is to remember that they are a person.

Group Activity:

Please refer to HANDOUT #10

Homework assignment:

“In their Shoes.” Reflect on the scenarios that you answered in your group today. Write a paragraph about how you would want to be

treated if you were in the shoes of one of the consumers. Be ready to share!

Review homework....

Let's go back to our handout #2 on definitions of disability and talk about autism

and working with youth with challenging behaviors....

Let's take a break and talk about SELF-Investment!

●Did you know that there are OVER 45,000 registered DSPs in the State of Minnesota?

●DSPAM Direct Support Professional Association of MN

http://www.nadsp.org

●Direct Care Alliance

http://www.directcarealliance.org/

●http://directcareclearinghouse.org/index.jsp

Group Activity:

Let's talk about how we can make our workplace, which is someone's home, a safer

place!

Let's be mindful that some disabilities may not allow the consumer to see, hear, or think in a manner that would allow them to respond

typically to an unsafe situation.

● Should cleaning chemicals be stored with food?● Is it possible that cleaning chemicals can be confused for other

chemicals, especially if they are both in aerosol sprays?● What chemicals should never be mixed together?

Homework Assignment:

Go back to your notes and review what we discussed regarding ADL's...you will get hands-

on practice in skilled labs tomorrow.

Legislation that affects YOU!● DSPs are considered under a companionship exemption, therefore they have to work 48 hours before being eligible

for overtime. ● Right now advocates and workers are pressuring their

legislators and representatives to support the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) which ends the

Companionship exemption and allows more protection to overtime.

● Here in Minneosta, legislators have recently passed a law that prohibits a DSP from working more than 275 hours per month, regardless of the number of agencies or consumers

they work for.● Legislators also require PCA agencies to pay 72.5% of the reimbursement rate directly to DSPs in wages and benefits,

however this has not shown to affect the wages.

Economic Trends...How much $$$$ will I make...

● The National average for DSPs is $10.27. ● Here in Minnesota it is $10.41

● The current reimbursement rate for PCA services to the agency, is $15.84- however another 3.5% reduction in that rate will take

place this October).● Most agencies offer from minimum wage up to

$12/hr● PCA Choice agencies usually start at $11.50

and go up to $12.75/hr.

Other employment opportunities as a DSP:

a) Group Homes are residential facilities (houses) that have a small number of residents with developmental and cognitive/ intellectual disabilities. The adults that live in these homes lead fairly independent lives and may even hold a job however they require guidance or supervision in certain areas of their lives. Working in a group home may mean organizing and supervising members of the household for cooking, cleaning up and other instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs); social activities and community outings; and overnights. Group home employees are required to have a valid driver’s license, clean driving record and carry personal driver’s insurance in the state of MN.

b) Adult Day Programs

c) Senior Day Programs

d) Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Facilities

e) School & Day Care Programs

Where can I find a DSP job?

● Over 600 agencies in Minnesota!● Non-profits and PCA Choice are generally going to

offer higher wages and more benefits.

●Be cautious of private pay…●Access Press

●MN Council of Non-Profits●Craigslist… again, be cautious!

Are you ready for the test?

Let's have some fun and play...The Knowledge Bowl!

Quick! Divid up into three teams, come up with a team name and assign a captain.

Let's play!

TEST TIME!

I will had out the test, if you need assistance with reading any questions, please let me know!

Homework assignment:

Reflect on your participation in this class. Did you meet your goals? Do you have any other

questions? What is your next step? Be ready to share with the class!

Tomorrow is our last day together, we will do skilled demonstrations and then I will give you

the results of your tests and certificates.