Geriatric Training for Patient-Care Assistants

Patient-care assistants often perform many valuable services that don't require a nursing degree. They may work in clinics, institutions, hospitals or home settings. These caregivers fulfill responsibilities as directed or supervised by doctors or registered nurses. The patient-care assistant has the most direct and personal contact with the patient. The services performed are varied and may include assisting the patient with daily chores or providing transportation to activities and appointments, as well as taking vital signs and recording observations of mental or physical health.

Basic Functions

• There are many levels of duties that can be performed by the patient-care assistant, but some of the most basic include taking temperature and blood pressure readings, as well as performing daily or hourly charting of the results. The patient-care assistant obtains lab specimens as requested by the supervising doctor and assists with the patient's hygiene needs while providing and maintaining a clean, safe environment. A patient-care assistant will order, receive and keep records of needed supplies and schedule appointments as required.

More Advanced Care

• To obtain certification as a patient-care assistant, some formal schooling is required. A candidate is required to have a high school diploma or G.E.D.; he may be required to be at least 18 years of age and must pass a background check and drug test. Students working to become certified patient-care assistants take courses that teach basic nursing skills, infection control and how to provide healthcare in a home setting. There are also required classes to help build good interpersonal communication skills, as well as training in professionalism and medical ethics.

Caring for the Elderly

• According to the American Geriatrics Society, a member of the baby-boomer generation turns 60 years old every 8 seconds. By 2015, nearly 15 percent of the U.S. population will be more than 65 years of age. The average lifespan has also increased dramatically from those found in the general population more than a century ago. As we age, the need for caregivers with special training in meeting the needs of the elderly also grows. This will increase the demand for patient-care assistants with specialized training and knowledge in the field of geriatric medicine.

Special Needs

• As we grow older, it's often difficult to tell the difference between diseases and symptoms of the natural aging process. While basic bodily functions tend to decline as we age, there's wide variation from one individual to another in the extent of that decline. The aim of geriatric care is to strive to prevent diseases while treating illnesses and disabilities. Elderly patients need a more comprehensive approach that looks at functional ability, mental health, quality of life and dependence factors.

Geriatric Training for the Caregiver

• The patient-care assistant who wants to work with the elderly must undergo training in the biology, sociology and psychology of aging. To provide comprehensive care, the assistant needs to have knowledge of the resources available to help meet the needs of such patients. Help is often available from the Area Agency on Aging, Meals on Wheels, the Department of Human Services, Legal Counsel for the Elderly and senior activity centers. Good communication skills are vital in working with the geriatric patient, as well as being able to interact with the patient's relatives: It's often necessary to involve the family in creating a care-management plan that addresses long-term care and legal steps for determining mental competence or preparing advanced directives. Other areas of training may focus on the administration of prescribed drugs and techniques for caring for patients with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.