Aged Care Staff Education Program

Manual handling training and reducing workplace injuries

Manual handling causes over a third of all workplace injuries. These include work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as pain and injuries to arms, legs and joints, and repetitive strain injuries of various types. Manual handling injuries can have serious implications for the employer and the individual who has been injured. They can occur almost anywhere in the workplace. The more often you do things correctly, the fewer 'accruing incidents occur'. We can help you minimise risks of injury due to poor manual handling.

Session Duration: 2 Hours

Topics covered:

• Body mechanics and importance of correct body mechanics.
• Correct manual handling techniques.
• Common injuries and risk of injuries due to poor manual handling techniques.
• Strategies to minimise manual handling and risk of injury in aged care.
• Safe operating procedures for lifting equipment.
• Safe working procedure for transferring residents.
• Risk/hazard identification and reporting procedures.

Who should attend: RNs, ENs, PCAs, Environmental and Catering staff.

Falls prevention and reducing risk of injury

Falls injuries in general, and hip fractures, in particular, are major public health issues with considerable cost to the health system. It also impacts severely the lives of senior people. Falls prevention is better than post-fall care. There are a number of things you can do to help prevent falls and minimise injuries if there is any accident.

Session Duration: 2 Hours

Topics covered:

• Falls risk assessment.
• Identifying high falls risk residents.
• Identifying risk, intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can lead to a fall.
• Falls prevention plans.
• Strategies to minimise the risk of injuries.

Who should attend: RNs, ENs, PCAs

Pain assessment and management in aged care

Unrecognised and poorly managed pain results in an unwarranted and serious decline in quality of life. Pain is not a normal part of the ageing process but the occurrence of tenacious pain increases with age and illness, reaching its highest levels among older people residing in aged care facilities. Identification of pain in dementia and in residents who are unable to verbalise pain is a challenge. A thorough assessment of pain is essential prior to plan a treatment regime. Physiotherapy interventions can both support the care needs of residents and assist the organisation to meet financial obligations.

Session Duration: 2 Hours

Topics covered:

• Identifying pain in residents.
• Pain assessment in dementia.
• Pain management strategies.

Who should attend: RNs, ENs, Care Coordinator and Facility management

Equipment prescription and maintenance

Use of correct equipment can not only improve the quality of life for a resident but can also assist reduce the time required for staff to care for the resident. Matching the need of resident and resources of a facility is a challenge. We will show you how you can do this.

Session Duration: 2 Hours

Topics covered:

• Introduction to equipment used in aged care.
• Matching resident needs for equipment like a bed, chairs, shower chairs, wheelchair etc.
• Hazard identification, the risk of using the inappropriate equipment.
• Prescribing correct equipment.
• Basic maintenance of equipment like specialised pressure cushions, air mattress wheelchair, princess chair, walking frames etc.
  

Who should attend: RNs, ENs, PCAs and Maintenance staff.

Pressure area care, preventing skin tears and bruising

The most common facility-acquired injuries to the residents are pressure areas, skin tears and bruising. However, with correct practices and the use of suitable equipment, the risk and occurrence of such incidences can be significantly reduced.

Session Duration: 2 Hours

Topics covered:

• Identifying risk of pressure area development, intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
• Strategies to minimise the risk of pressure area development.
• Products available to minimise the risk of pressure area development.
• Identifying risk of skin tears and bruising, intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
• Strategies to minimise the risk of skin tears and bruising.
• Products available to minimise the risk of skin tears and bruising.

Who should attend: RNs, ENs, PCAs and Maintenance staff.