There is an expectation of trust between a Service User & Staff but also between staff members. This is even more so evident when you are caring for someone within their own home.
Confidentiality is about privacy and respecting another person’s wishes. It is a key value that must be maintained as a myhomecare employee
We would like to remind you that confidentiality in healthcare/homecare covers all the following areas
· Clients · Client’s Family and Friends · Colleagues · Myhomecare Agency · Other agencies · GP, PHN, OT or any other healthcare worker involved in client’s care
Confidentiality includes both verbal and written information. Please be mindful of and adhere to the following elements of care when working for Myhomecare:
· A client should never be discussed in the presence of another person (client, family member or staff member) that is not directly involved with that client’s care
· If you need to talk to a colleague about a client (and your colleague is directly involved in client’s care), please use initials and not client’s name eg Mary Kelly would be referred to as MK. Ensure your tone and words are professional and respectful.
· If you are no longer working with a client, you have no access to that client’s information or current care status. Your colleagues cannot tell you how the client is doing.
· All documentation in the client’s home have their name, date of birth and client ID attached to the document. These can never leave the house or be brought to another client’s house. This would be breach of confidentiality and can cause mix up between clients’ information and result in serious harm and or disciplinary action.
· WhatsApp groups set up by staff can be useful tools when helping each other out with days off or other issues related to rosters and shifts, however clients can never be mentioned in these chats as their information is highly confidential.
· Remember to put your client in focus at all times. Always involve your client in all conversations and in all care that is being provided
Should you have any concerns or need to ask any questions around your role in confidentiality please contact your local nurse manager.
Falls & Pressure Area Reporting ⚠
Please be aware of the importance of reporting the above to your local office Nurse Manager. A phone call or email will suffice as we will need to keep a record. If you are unable to contact your nurse manager, please contact the office and speak to another member of the team.
Pressure ulcers, also sometimes known as bedsores or pressure sores, are a type of injury that affects areas of the skin and underlying tissue. They are caused when the affected area of skin is placed under too much pressure.
Pressure ulcers can range in severity from patches of discoloured skin to open wounds that expose the underlying bone or muscle. Pressure ulcers develop when a large amount of pressure is applied to an area of skin over a short period of time. Or, they can occur when less force is applied but over a longer period of time.
The extra pressure disrupts the flow of blood through the skin. Without a blood supply, the affected area of skin becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients. It begins to break down, leading to the formation of an ulcer.
Healthy people do not get pressure ulcers because they are continuously and subconsciously adjusting their posture and position so that no part of their body is subjected to excessive pressure.
However, people with health conditions that make it difficult for them to move their body often develop pressure ulcers. In addition, conditions that can affect the flow of blood through the body, such as type 2 diabetes, can make a person more vulnerable to pressure ulcers.
Pressure ulcers can be unpleasant, upsetting and challenging to treat. Therefore, healthcare professionals use a range of techniques that are designed to prevent pressure ulcers developing in the first place. These include:
regularly changing a person's position
using equipment, such as specially designed mattresses and cushions, to protect vulnerable parts of the body
Falls in an ageing population
Falls have a multifactorial aetiology and numerous risk factors can be identified. These are diverse and can include such risks factors as:
Living Alone
Age
Limitations in mobility and undertaking activities of daily living without support
Polypharmacy. Those who are taking more than 4 different types of medication have been shown to be at an increased a risk of falling
Environmental hazards such as loose-fitting rugs, uneven floors and inadequate lighting
Stairs without supporting handrails
There are ways in which you can support the client you are caring for and help reduce the risk of them having a fall Key Tips:
Encourage the person to keep active and do some exercises daily
Encourage a healthy diet which will improve overall health
Remind the person to have their hearing and eye health checked regularly
Remind the person & their family to have the persons medications checked and reviewed every year
Encourage goof foot care, and recommend wear well fitted shoes and slippers when at home
Ensure your clients home is safe by removing tripping hazards and encourage same when you are not on your work shift
Encourage your client to have social contacts where possible and take time for friends
Our Core Values 💙
Core values are what support the vision, shape the culture and reflect what a company values. They are the essence of the company’s identity – the principles, beliefs or philosophy of values. What are our Core Values?
· Customer First – We never compromise on quality – we deliver services to world class standards, nothing less ever.
· Accountable – We represent our clients and customers with dignity and honesty. Our stakeholders trust us.
· Responsible – It is about seeing the whole job through to the end. It is not done until it is all done.
· Empower – Our leaders within the business are encouraged to problem solve, innovate and use the latest technology to support others.
· Effective Communication – Clarity, openness and a willingness to listen characterises our approach to interacting with others.
· Respect – Integrity, fairness, equality, diversity, cooperation, responsiveness and perceptiveness in how we treat others.
Coronavirus ~ COVID-19 🦠
All the information you need regarding COVID-19.
As current Covid 19 cases are increasing this winter please ensure you are kept up to date on the most recent guidance from the HSE & HSPC websites. Remember:
• All staff must wear gloves, apron and surgical mask for all visits in a clients home. Correct donning and doffing of PPE must be completed on entering and leaving the home. Change of PPE if needed between tasks such as personal case is permitted once clean PPE is put on.
• Handwashing must be completed on entering the home and leaving. In between tasks carried out
• All carers are to wear enhanced PPE (surgical face mask, goggles/visors, full gowns, gloves) when working with a client who is Covid positive. Please contact your local client care manager/nurse manager so this can be provided to you. If you are made aware a client is awaiting a test result or is symptomatic we can provide full PPE in the interim. If negative result basic PPE then will resume.
• All your clothes should be washed daily using a minimum 60 degree cycle. If possible, leave your work shoes outside or in the car.
Please remember to self-monitor for COVID symptoms minimum twice daily as per guidelines. If you have a sore throat, blocked/runny nose, cough, aches/pain, tiredness/fatigue, loss of taste/smell, severe headache or any other unusual symptom please contact your GP and Myhomecare immediately for advice before continuing your client calls.
Some helpful links are outlined below with guidance and video resources available
Stress Management Tips for Healthcare Workers during COVID-19
If you are a healthcare worker, you may be exposed to additional sources of stress because of different reasons:
• You may be working extended shifts or seeing more patients, while trying to stay up to date with evolving COVID-19 treatments and protocols.
• Your intense work schedule could make it much harder for you to practice self-care and connect with your social support network.
• You may be experiencing stress in your personal life due to the crisis - or other unrelated issues – as you attempt to maintain standards of care for vulnerable patients.
• You may feel tired of and restricted by protective equipment. It could take a physical toll on you, and it may become harder to provide the level of comfort you usually offer to distressed patients in your care.
• If you have children and are required to work full shifts, it could be challenging to find someone to look after them.
• You may experience stigma due to your increased exposure to the virus, which could cause you to feel isolated and lonely.
• You may be concerned about your health and the potential health risk to your family members.
• You may face an increase in difficult or distressing situations and decisions.
• You may have to quickly adjust to new colleagues and guidelines, with no time to reflect and adapt.
• You may have to practice social distancing or isolate entirely from your family and children.
• Being vulnerable to high levels of stress can increase your chances of becoming overwhelmed. You need to be aware of how you are feeling before you can find ways to cope with your new circumstances.
• So, if you are experiencing more stress, what can you do to mind yourself in the middle of working on the frontline of a pandemic?
Top tips for healthcare workers:
Pay attention to and notice how you are feeling:
1. Be aware of your stress levels: stress can accumulate and become overwhelming and chronic unless managed. Keep an eye and monitor how you’re doing.
2. Remind yourself that feeling stressed is normal under the exceptional circumstances we are living through. It is okay not to be okay.
3. You may feel like you are not doing enough and that you’re not up to the task. Remember that becoming stressed or overwhelmed simply shows you are human and is in no way a reflection of your
abilities.
4. Some stress is helpful in energizing you to keep going in the current situation, but it is important to manage it so that it does not become excessive and overwhelms you.
5. You may also experience a range of unpleasant and unwelcome emotions, maybe also towards patients, on top of dealing with a lot of uncertainty on a daily basis. You may feel anger for non-compliance with social distancing restrictions, you may feel powerless at times and you may find it hard to feel compassionate towards patients at other times. This is normal and to be expected. However, it is important that you reach out for support if these feelings start becoming unsettling.
Once you recognize that things are impacting on you, you can find new ways to cope with your situation. Remember, even doing something small to look after yourself can make a big difference to your stress levels.
What you need to do:
• Self-care is hardest when you need it most. You may not feel like it is a priority when you have so much to do, but it is and cannot be negotiable at this time. You need to make sure you look after your basic physical and mental health needs or you won’t be able to look after others.
• Eat well and look after your body - Make sure you get enough exercise as it is the single most helpful tool to help you manage your mental health. Don’t skip meals or breaks, no matter how busy you are. Stretching or simply getting some fresh air can be a simple and quick way to mind yourself.
• Beware of unhelpful coping strategies - (Alcohol, tobacco etc), which can easily become automatic ways to try and make ourselves feel better at times of stress. However, these can have a negative impact on your mental health, so it is a good idea to try and keep an eye on them.
• Get enough sleep – Sleep can be a challenge at this time, but it is essential to your ability to make sound decisions.
• Find ways to care for yourself - What are the things that help you care for yourself? You may need to get a little creative at this time as some of your self-care tools may not be options due to current restrictions.
• Connect - You may find yourself somewhat excluded and isolated at this time because of work, restrictions, etc. Try to keep in touch with important people in your life as much as possible (without overdoing it!).
• Keep healthy boundaries - Beware of the temptation to overwork and skip breaks because things are so busy. These are essential times for you to recharge to be able to give some more.
• Watch out for excessive stress, fatigue, and sudden exhaustion - Look out for your stress levels worsening, feeling overwhelmed, feeling disconnected from your work and start finding looking after yourself harder as time goes on. Working on adrenaline for extended periods of time can also lead to a sudden onset of exhaustion. Do not blame yourself, as it is not your fault, rather reach out to your line manager/lead to get the support you need to get back on track.
• Values - Reconnecting to your values can be a helpful way to refocus on why you are doing what you are doing and how you want to do it. Taking a moment to reflect on what these are and how your life and what you are doing every day is matching up against these can help keep focus.
Finally, how about you take a moment to reflect each day: remind yourself of what you have achieved, how maybe you supported or connected with someone, or perhaps you did something to self-care. No matter how big or small, it’s important to celebrate your gains to help you stay well and hopeful about the future.
Refer A Friend 💶
One Touch Health
It is important that you record your tasks and care provided in the notes section daily for each client. If you have any issues using the system, please contact your local team who will be happy to help!
