Support That Builds on Each Person's Abilities

People who receive assistance often retain many abilities, even when they need help with certain activities of daily living. The goal is therefore not only to address their immediate needs but also to encourage them to maintain their abilities whenever possible.

Patient Service Associates, Orderlies, and home health and social services aides play an important role in this approach, which supports independence, confidence, and quality of life.

Building on people's existing abilities is an important part of CDI College's Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions – 5905 DVS program, where students develop the skills needed to support people while respecting their abilities and individual potential.

Focusing on What the Person Can Still Do

Every person has different strengths.

Even when someone needs assistance, they may still be able to participate in certain activities depending on their abilities, health, and level of independence.

Patient Service Associates encourage this participation to help people maintain their abilities for as long as possible.

This creates a more active approach to assistance, with the person remaining involved rather than simply having everything done for them.

Encouraging Without Pushing

Helping people maintain their abilities never means asking them to do something beyond what they can manage.

Instead, Patient Service Associates adapt their approach to provide the necessary support while giving people the opportunity to perform tasks they can still do themselves.

This approach respects each person's pace, limitations, and individual goals.

👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Encourage People's Participation?

An Approach That Supports Well-Being

Helping people maintain their abilities can support their well-being in several ways.

By participating in activities of daily living, people can remain more actively involved in their own care, maintain a degree of independence, and build confidence in what they can still do.

This approach also helps respect their dignity and daily routines.

👉 Learn more: Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Respect People's Daily Routines?

A Skill Developed During Training

CDI College's Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions – 5905 DVS program prepares students to recognize the abilities of the people they support and adapt their approach accordingly.

Through courses, hands-on labs, and practicums, students learn to provide assistance that encourages participation, supports independence, and contributes to quality of life.

This approach prepares them to support people with a variety of needs with professionalism and compassion.

A Profession That Focuses on People's Abilities

Patient Service Associates do not focus only on the difficulties a person may experience.

They also consider what each person is still able to do so they can encourage them, provide the right level of support, and help them remain as independent as possible for as long as possible.

This approach helps provide assistance that recognizes each person's potential while remaining respectful, personalized, and centred on the individual.

Explore Further

👉 How Do Patient Service Associates Support People With a Loss of Independence?

👉 How Do Patient Service Associates Contribute to People's Comfort?

👉 Why Do Patient Service Associates Need to Adapt Their Approach to Each Person?

👉 Learn More About CDI College's Support for Assistive Services in Health and Social Services Institutions – 5905 DVS Program