How might a support worker consider and confirm level of participation in meeting their personal care needs?

A support worker can consider and confirm the level of participation in meeting a person's personal care needs by:

- Observing the person's abilities and limitations. This includes assessing their physical strength, coordination, range of motion, and any cognitive or sensory impairments.

- Consulting with the person's healthcare team. This includes the person's doctor, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who are involved in their care.

- Talking with the person and their family or caregivers. This can help the support worker understand the person's preferences, goals, and concerns.

- Using standardized assessment tools. These tools can help the support worker objectively measure the person's level of participation in personal care activities.

- Asking the person directly about their preferred role. This may not be possible in cases of severe intellectual or communication impairments, but for clients with any degree of communication skills, autonomy should always be encouraged.

Based on this information, the support worker can develop a care plan that outlines the level of participation that the person is expected to have in their personal care activities. The care plan should be reviewed and updated regularly as the person's condition changes.