Personal Care Attendant

Provide service to individuals in their own homes and communities, who need assistance caring for themselves as a result of old age, sickness, disability, and/or other inflictions. Personal Care may include assistance with the activities of daily living, housecleaning, laundry, meal preparation, transportation, companionship, and respite. Be responsible for ensuring service is delivered in a caring and respectful manner, in accordance with relevant Agency policies and industry standards.

Reporting Relationship:

• Reports to RN Supervisor or Administrator/Manager

Responsibilities/Activities:

•  Assist with the activities of daily living and personal care including:

Bathing Shaving Ambulation Mouth care

Dressing Exercise Hair care Feeding

Toileting Nail Care Positioning Medication Administration Skin Care Transferring Vital signs Blood Pressure

• Provide clients with services in accordance with the health care provider’s orders regarding administration or assistance with medications and treatments.
• Supervise of self-administered medication to clients following company and regulatory guidelines.
• Report any change in resident’s health and provide proper documentation to the supervisor.
• Enter accurate and timely notes to resident’s records and charts.
• Report all changes in the client’s condition to the RN Supervisor as soon as possible.
• Provide clients’ families with a high level of customer service.
• Ensure client’s safety and security by supervising the home environment.
• Teach/perform meal planning and preparation, routine housekeeping activities such as making/changing beds, dusting, vacuuming, washing floors, cleaning kitchen and bathroom, and laundry.
• Provide companionship including social interactions, conversations, emotional reassurance, and encouragement of activities that stimulate the mind.
• Provides respite care for families in accordance with care plans.
• Assist clients with following a written, special diet plan and reinforcement of diet maintenance, which is provided under the direction of a Physician and as identified on the care plan.
• Escort clients to medical facilities, errands, shopping, and outings as specified in the care plan.
• Perform/assist with essential shopping/errands, which may include handling the client’s money in accordance with the care plan and under the observation of the Supervisor.
• Assist clients with communication by writing or typing correspondence for them or researching information for them.
• Participate on the Care Team by providing input and making suggestions.
• Ensure service is delivered in accordance with all relevant policies, procedures, and practices.
• Monitor supplies and resources.
• Evaluate the program and make recommendations to it, as indicated.
• Follow the written care plan.
• Carry out duties as assigned by the RN Supervisor.
• Observe clients and their environments and report unsafe conditions to RN Supervisor.
• Observe clients and their environments and report behavior, physical and/or cognitive changes and/or changes in living arrangements to the Supervisor.
• Complete and maintain records of daily activities, observations, and direct hours of service.
• Attend orientation, in-service training sessions and staff meetings.
• Develop and maintain constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.
• Make decisions and solve problems.
• Communicate with RN Supervisor, Administrator/Manager and co-workers.
• Observe, receive, and obtain information from relevant sources.
• Performs other duties as required.

Required Knowledge:

• Knowledge of personal care and home management skills.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing client and personal care services, including needs determinants, meeting quality standards and evaluation of client satisfaction.
• Fluent in the English language.
• Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat injuries including emergency first aid and CPR.
• Knowledge of clerical procedures such as maintaining records and completing forms.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• The ability to competently assist clients with their activities of daily living.
• The ability to be aware of other people’s reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• The ability to establish and maintain relationships.
• The ability to teach others.
• The ability to listen actively.
• The ability to identify problems and determine effective solutions.
• The ability to apply reason and logic to identify strengths and weaknesses of possible solutions.
• The ability to monitor and assess themselves, clients, and effectiveness of service.
• The ability to understand written and oral instructions.
• The ability to communicate information orally so others understand.
• The ability to communicate in writing so others understand.
• The ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.
• The ability to determine or recognize when something is likely to go wrong.
• The ability to suggest several ideas on a subject.
• The ability to perform activities that use the whole body.
• The ability to handle and move objects and people.
• The ability to provide advice and consultation to others.
• The ability to observe and recognize changes in clients.
• The ability to establish and maintain harmonious relations with clients/families/co-workers.

Physical and Mental Demands:

• Good physical and mental health.
• Physical ability to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk, hear, and see.
• Mental fortitude and stability to handle stress.
• Physical and mental ability to drive a vehicle.

Qualifications/Education:

• Certified Medicine Aide experience of at least 1 year
• Medication Technician/Aide Certification in the state of Maryland
• Minimum High School Diploma or GED
• Able to read, write, speak and understand the English language
• Current MD, DC or VA driver’s license.
• Proper Vehicle Insurance Coverage (full coverage)

Training/Experience:

• May require related experience.
• On-the-job training for new activities.