Chapter 5: Care Expectations

Well, that concludes our orientation time together. I hope that you have gotten a sense of more than just our expectations and rules here at Easy Living. I hope you have also observed that we are serious about supporting our care partners and we are thankful for your hard work every day. Remember, we are only a phone call away. We are here to help! We look forward to having you a part of our Easy Living team.

History Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was first discovered in 1906 by a German doctor named Alois Alzheimer. It is a disorder of the brain, causing damage to brain tissue over a period of time. The disease can linger from 2 to 25 years before death results. AD is a progressive, debilitating and eventually fatal neurological illness affecting an estimated 4-5 million Americans. It is the most common form of dementing illness. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized clinically by early memory impairment followed by language and perceptual problems. This disease can affect anyone - it has no economic, social, racial or national barriers. Causes [...]

At Easy Living, we have care partners serving clients throughout the greater community. Many clients live in their homes. Some clients live with loved ones. Other clients live in senior living communities. We are happy to serve all of our clients, no matter where they live! Over the past few years, more and more Easy Living clients have been living in senior living communities. We are thrilled to serve clients in their apartments there and to introduce other parts of the senior care industry to our amazing care partners. If you work with a client who is in a senior [...]

There are many types of services that an Easy Living client may receive. Not all of those services will come from Easy Living. We are a part of the client’s team that helps them to live as independently as possible. Sometimes, clients receive hospice or palliative care services. These services come from other organizations in our area. Hospice and palliative care services aren’t just for people who are actively dying. In fact, many people live for months and years while receiving hospice services. These services are for clients who have a terminal diagnosis and hospice provides additional support, pain management, [...]

Communication is even more important in a home care agency. After all, our office staff doesn’t interact with our care partners daily during shifts because you are out in the community, serving clients in their homes. One way we communicate with one another is through your daily documentation. However, you should also communicate with us when out of the ordinary things happen, like incidents or emergencies, as well as when you have a question. You can always contact our office and your supervisor. We are here to help! Be sure you have our contact information stored in your phone so [...]

Even the very best care partners can hear complaints or concerns from family members or clients. It’s important that you know how we expect you to handle and resolve them. There are plenty of reasons why clients or family members may have concerns, including the most common ones we hear: concerns over care or communication issues. The best way to avoid these concerns is to always give exceptional care and communicate well. However, if you are approached by a client or family member who is expressing a concern or complaint, follow these guidelines: Don’t be defensive. It’s natural to feel [...]

I’m thankful for my cell phone, and I’m sure you are thankful for yours. It keeps me updated on all of my work tasks and it ensures that my kiddo can reach me if he needs me. Cell phones also allow Easy Living care partners to access our caregiver app, document and even clock in and out. However, cell phones can also be a distraction during your shift with a client. At Easy Living, we expect you to utilize your cell phones during your shift only when you are clocking in/out, communicating with our office, or documenting. You should not [...]

Easy Living believes that dignity and independence are cornerstones of the client experience. During all of your interactions with the clients you serve, you should always find ways to help maintain their dignity and their independence. Let’s talk a little more about what that looks like together. Dignity is defined as being worthy of honor and respect. Our clients are certainly worthy of honor and respect! You can preserve a client’s dignity throughout your interactions together by doing things like: Offering choice. Asking them how they take their coffee, which blouse they want to wear, or which route to take [...]

When you care for a client in their homes, it is important that you do your best to keep them from getting sick and to keep yourself from getting sick too. Infection control is important for all healthcare organizations, including Easy Living. It is always our goal to follow the best practices and recommendations for good infection control protocols. Here’s what you need to know to stay healthy and keep your clients healthy too. Germs, bacteria, and viruses are spread from person to person. These organisms can make us sick, whether it is the common cold, tuberculosis, hepatitis, influenza, or [...]

A positive client experience begins when you first ring their doorbell or knock on the door. No matter if it is the first time you are meeting a client or if it is the 100th time you are caring for a client, make sure you start their experience on the right foot. Before you ring the doorbell or knock on the door, do a quick scan to see how you are feeling emotionally. If you are in a bad mood because you had a fight with a family member this morning or because you hit some unexpected traffic, you are [...]