QC
July 8, 2014 | Quebec
Careers Focused on Assistance and Support
Patient Service Associates, Orderlies, and home health and social services aides support people who need assistance with various activities in their daily lives.
Their work requires observation, communication, and collaboration, as well as the ability to adapt their approach to each person's needs, abilities, and circumstances. Respecting people's independence, daily routines, and dignity is also an important part of the support they provide.
CDI College's Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions – 5905 DVS program prepares students for careers as Patient Service Associates and home health and social services aides.
Supporting Independence
Assisting does not simply mean performing activities for someone.
Depending on a person's abilities and circumstances, it can be important to encourage participation and help them maintain as much independence as possible in activities of daily living.
This approach involves observing what the person can do and adapting the assistance provided to their needs.
👉 Learn more: How Do Patient Service Associates Help People Maintain Their Independence?
Developing Strong Observation Skills
Patient Service Associates are in regular contact with the people they support.
This close contact allows them to observe signs and changes in a person's condition, behaviour, or abilities.
Recognizing when a situation may require particular attention and communicating relevant observations are therefore important aspects of the role.
👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need Strong Observation Skills?
Building a Relationship Based on Trust
Patient Service Associates and home health and social services aides may support people who are experiencing a loss of independence, illness, or other circumstances that can leave them feeling more vulnerable.
Listening, respect, and communication adapted to the individual can help create an environment that supports positive interactions.
Trust develops gradually and requires ongoing respect for each person's needs and boundaries.
👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Build Trust With the People They Support?
Adapting the Approach to Each Person
Two people who require similar assistance may have very different routines, abilities, preferences, and circumstances.
Assistance, therefore, needs to be adapted to the individual rather than provided in the same way in every situation.
This ability to adapt can help Patient Service Associates respect each person's pace, needs, and level of independence.
👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Adapt Their Approach to Each Person?
Collaborating With Other Professionals
Health and social services assistance often occurs in settings where several professionals may be involved in supporting the same person.
Observations made during everyday interactions may need to be communicated to other team members to ensure relevant information is shared.
Collaboration can therefore support continuity of services and a better understanding of the person's needs.
👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Work as a Team?
Understanding the Limits of the Role
Knowing what you are permitted to do is important. Recognizing the limits of your responsibilities is equally important.
Patient Service Associates and home health and social services aides work within defined professional responsibilities. Some situations may require another professional to intervene or important information to be communicated promptly.
Understanding the scope of the role helps these professionals act within their responsibilities and collaborate effectively with other team members.
👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Recognize the Limits of Their Role?
Adapting to Different Care Settings
Health and social services assistance can be provided in a wide variety of settings.
The realities of long-term care are not necessarily the same as those encountered in acute care, critical care, or home care.
Professionals, therefore, need to understand the specific demands of each setting and adapt how they support people accordingly.
👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Work in Such a Variety of Settings?
Supporting People With a Loss of Independence
A loss of independence can affect a person's ability to perform certain activities of daily living.
Their needs may also change over time depending on their condition, abilities, and environment.
The goal is to provide the necessary assistance while encouraging the person's participation and helping them maintain their abilities whenever possible.
👉 Learn more: How Do Patient Service Associates Support People With a Loss of Independence?
Explaining Care Before Providing It
In health and social services assistance, how support is provided can be just as important as the assistance itself.
Explaining what will happen helps the person understand the assistance they are about to receive and encourages their participation. This communication can also create a more respectful environment and allow the Patient Service Associate to take the person's reactions, needs, and concerns into account.
Taking the time to explain an interaction is therefore part of an approach that keeps the person at the centre of the assistance they receive.
👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Explain Care Before Providing It?
Understanding the Difference Between the Two Roles
CDI College's Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions – 5905 DVS program prepares students for two professional roles: Patient Service Associate or Orderly, and home health and social services aide.
The two roles share many skills related to assistance, observation, communication, and supporting people. However, some aspects of the work differ depending on where services are provided.
Understanding these differences can provide a clearer picture of the career opportunities the training can lead to.
👉 Learn more: Patient Service Associate or Home Health and Social Services Aide: What's the Difference?
Training for the Realities of Health and Social Services Assistance
CDI College's Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions – 5905 DVS program helps students develop skills in areas including communication and collaboration, understanding people's needs, relationship-based approaches, and assistance with activities of daily living.
Students also become familiar with different situations they may encounter in healthcare facilities and when providing services in people's homes.
Through hands-on training and practicums in professional settings, students can gradually apply what they have learned in workplace-realistic situations.
Skills That Adapt to People's Needs
No two people have the same assistance needs.
A person's condition, independence, environment, daily routines, and the setting in which they receive services can all influence how assistance should be provided.
By developing their observation, communication, collaboration, and adaptability skills, future Patient Service Associates and home health and social services aides prepare to support people facing a variety of circumstances while respecting the responsibilities and limits of their roles.
Explore Further
👉 Supporting People Living With Physical Limitations
👉 Supporting People Living With Cognitive Challenges
👉 Supporting People Receiving Palliative Care
