Personal Support Worker (Community Alzheimer Program)

The Role

Provides care and assists in the activities of daily living, and recreation and social programs to program participants, under direction. Documents care and assistance given. Performs clerical, portering, and housekeeping duties as required.
 

Duties/Responsibilities

Assists residents to maintain personal hygiene (e.g., bathing, nail grooming, teeth cleaning, mouth care), and with dressing/undressing. Labels resident clothing and care items. Assists residents in and out of beds, wheelchairs, geriatric chairs, on/off toilets, bedpans, and commodes using resident-appropriate lifting techniques and mechanical protocols. 

Carries out routine bowel and bladder programs. Distributes and cleans bedpans and urinals, as required. 

Makes/changes resident beds when required. Rinses and sorts soiled clothing and linens for laundering.

Applies topical lotions, oils, and ointments under direction of RPN, RN, or delegate. Collects specimens for testing as directed.

Responds promptly to resident call lights.

Documents care provided and activities of daily living per policy. Attends resident care conferences as needed. Participates in shift reports. Observes and immediately reports changes in resident physical and emotional condition and assists to maintain condition and care records. Files monthly records to resident files, as required. Completes daily flow sheets and bowel records.

Assists residents to prepare for appointments and activities, and assists with activities, as required.  Encourages participation in recreation and restorative care programs. Provides input to recreation therapist regarding social programs for residents based on interests. Assists resident care staff with resident exercises and walking. Accompanies/transports residents to in-house appointments (e.g., hairdresser, barber, optometrist, programs), and occasionally accompanies residents using taxi or med-lift transportation.
 
Serves and assists during meals, feeds residents as directed, cleans residents as needed, and clears tables. Documents food intake per procedures and reports unusual occurrences to RPN, RN.
Tidies resident rooms, bedside tables, lockers, closets, kitchenettes, utility rooms, refrigerators, communication centres. Cleans spills, wheelchairs, gerichairs, commode chairs, and walkers. Maintains and stores equipment in good working condition, and submits work orders for repairs. Reports hazards that could impact staff and resident safety.

Assists with admissions, discharge, and transfers per instruction from Team Lead, RN, RPN, including unpacking/packing possessions and making residents feel welcomed. Answers visitor questions promptly and courteously, and re-directs to caregiver if required. Answers telephones, takes messages, and refers callers after office-hours. 

Assists to locate residents per code yellow procedures.

Tends to deceased residents when directed (e.g., bathing, dressing, belongings, assisting with other preparations).  

Keeps knowledge current through in-service training and communications. Demonstrates/explains work procedures to help train new staff and volunteers as directed. 

In Community Alzheimer Program, engages participants in recreational and social programs as directed/instructed by Recreation Therapist. Assists on outings and occasionally accompanies clients in van. Works with RPN and RN to provide personal care.

Performs related duties as assigned.
 

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge, skill, and judgment acquired through certification from an approved Personal Support Worker program, including an understanding of the geriatric population. 

Must have a tuberculosis (TB) test and annual influenza immunization.

Knowledge of and ability to comply with policy, procedures, the restorative care philosophy (with a focus on team work), and related legislation. 

Human relations and communication skills to interact pleasantly and professionally with residents, their families, and other staff; engage participants in recreational and social programs as directed/ instructed; assist on outings; work with RPN and RN to provide personal care; and participate as an effective team member. 

Ability to read, participate in, and communicate as it relates to resident care plans, health status updates, daily reports, information forms, case histories, and flow sheets.

Ability to operate mechanical lifts and transfer devices per policy.

Must provide an acceptable a vulnerable sector police check (Level 3). 

Ability to work day, evening, night, weekend, and statutory holiday hours when assigned to Sunnyside Home, and potentially when assigned to Community Alzheimer Program.

Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.
 

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities