PROVIDING PERSONAL CARE

Providing personal care skills refers to the practical skills that are important for caregivers to be aware of. These skills, including transfer training and feeding tips, allow caregivers to practice safe and informed skills with guidance from the IHSS Caregiver Training modules. Transfers refer to moving clients from surface to surface, such as from laying in bed to sitting in a chair. We want to stress the importance of these skills because they are foundational in maximizing accessibility for clients’ within their own homes. This is what we like to call the natural environment. When placing a client into their natural environment, we have the opportunity to see how they participate and interact with different activities. As a caregiver, this will help you gauge how much assistance you will have to give your clients in activities, such as transferring and feeding (Moneta & Csikszentmihalyi, 1999). For example, someone who gets tired very easy may not have the endurance to stand up or sit down by themselves; therefore, you as a caregiver can jump in to assist as needed. 
Additionally, the ability to strengthen your caregiver skills will then strengthen your trust and therapeutic relationship with your clients. We, as healthcare practitioners, value these components as they promote greater productivity, enjoyment, and adherence to safety tips shared by you- the caregiver (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011). It is important to note that these skills shared with caregivers are not intended to replace the role of a specialized aging in place professional or any other healthcare providers. The In-Home skills module has been crafted to provide more direction and intention in the practical skills needed to enhance the quality of care you provide your clients.