What Is Considered Direct Care in Nursing?

Direct care is a form of nursing that involves caring for people suffering from chronic illnesses or disabilities. Direct care is much more involved than standard nursing care, as nurses typically have to assist patients with daily activities in addition to managing an illness and managing treatment regimens. There are several direct care roles within the nursing field.

Home Care Aides

• Home care aides work with patients suffering from disabilities or chronic illnesses who need assistance with daily living activities. Home care aides assist these patients in managing their lives in their own homes or in housing made for chronically ill people. Without the assistance of home care aides, patients would need to remain in hospital care or another health institution for the long term. Typical activities undertaken by a home care aide including helping with grooming and bathing, managing shopping lists and preparing meals for patients.

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)

• DSPs usually work with patients with mental health problems that can lead to developmental difficulties on an emotional and intellectual level. DSPs help patients with the everyday skills necessary to live an independent life, such as managing household expenses and trying to find employment. The aim of DSPs is to help patients return to independent living and play an active role in their communities.

Respite Care Workers

• These direct care workers work with patients with chronic health conditions and physical disabilities. The role of respite workers is to improve the relationship between the patients and their friends and family members. Living with someone suffering from a severe disability or chronic illness can place a massive strain on the relations between family members. Respite workers ease some of this burden by taking on many of the tasks, such as mobility assistance and bathing, that would normally be undertaken by friends and family members.

Classroom Aides and Habilitation Technicians

• Classroom aides provide instruction and support in classroom settings to people suffering with mental health and developmental problems. Classroom aides help students learn ways to manage their conditions and to integrate into their communities. Habilitation technicians specialize in patients with developmental problems or those with a drug or alcohol addiction. Habilitation technicians use a range of strategies in assisting sufferers, including cognitive behavioral therapy and personal assistance with the activities of daily life.