Introduction

Housekeeping is an essential task of the Home Health Aide/Personal Care Aide. It helps to enhance a patient’s quality of life. When a patient’s home is clean and organized, it helps them to feel better psychologically, and it keeps them safer physically. During times of illness, there may be much stress, disorganization, and even chaos in the home. Becoming ill and dealing with disease, disability, or injury can be stressful. It can also occupy a great deal of the patient and family’s time, which leads to requiring assistance with keeping their home clean. Helping to keep the patient’s home clean and safe is one important way that Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides can help the family during their time of need.

Having a clean home is important for infection control. Proper disinfection removes microorganisms. Microorganisms are bacteria, fungus, and viruses that can cause disease. Maintaining a safe and clean home also helps to prevent accidents and further injury or disability. Tidying up on a regular basis allows Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides to prevent accidental falls.

Many people take great pride in their home. When they are sick or disabled, they may not be able to maintain their home the way they used to or would like. With assistance from a HHA/PCA, they can have a living space that reflects the pride they have in their home. Some patients may not have good knowledge of how to maintain a clean home. With the support and assistance of a HHA/PCA, they can learn proper cleaning techniques and household management skills. Having this knowledge will help to enhance a patient’s independence, self-esteem, ability to feel control in their life, and comfort.

Introduction

We all maintain our own living spaces. Each of us has preferred ways of doing things. We have specific cleaning supplies we might especially like. We may like to perform household tasks in a certain order. We may even feel very particular about other people touching our personal belongings. While Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides use the housekeeping skills that they already use to clean their own homes, they can also learn new in this course. Remember, cleaning another person’s home is very different than cleaning your own home!

The way Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides do things may be very different from the way their patient does, or prefers to have them done. Remember though, that there is more than one way to complete a task. Remember also that the patient’s preferences are always correct and must be respected. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides must always be conscious (aware) of respecting their patient’s belongings, their preferences, and their cultural values and practices.

Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides will be using equipment and cleaning supplies different from their own. They should find out how to use their patient’s equipment correctly. Ask the patient to explain how to use it, read the manufacturer’s instruction booklet, or seek assistance from a supervisor. They should ask their patient to tell them how they would like their home to be cleaned and the cleaning supplies they prefer them to use. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides must remember when completing tasks in which they must move the patient’s belongings to always put them back where they were. They shouldn’t take it upon themselves to rearrange their patient’s belongings or furniture. Think about how you might feel if someone came into your home and started to rearrange your things because they thought their way was best! Handle the patient and family’s belongings carefully. Replacing items, especially equipment, can be very expensive.

While it is important to encourage independence and support a patient’s ability to perform household tasks independently, Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should always be sensitive to their limitations. They may not be able to physically complete a task that others may find very simple. They may also not be able to psychologically handle the extra burden or stress of cleaning or performing other household tasks. Do not be judgmental about their abilities. Instead, Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should work with them to find the tasks that they are able to do. Find creative ways to adapt tasks to their abilities. For example, a patient may not be able to stand for long periods of time. However, they may be able to very successfully perform many household tasks seated. They could fold laundry, iron clothing, prepare food, and even vacuum from a seated position!

Introduction

Using proper body mechanics is of utmost importance. Proper body mechanics means using the body in an efficient and safe way. Using proper body mechanics prevents Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides from injuring themselves or a patient. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should always be aware of performing tasks safely, and they should also encourage their patient to do the same. Show a patient safe ways of doing things and good body mechanics. Remember, using proper body mechanics helps prevent injury. This applies to both Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides and their patients!

Review Unit VII in Module 12 for how to use Proper Body Mechanics.

Maintaining Proper Body Mechanics:

• When standing, keep your feet about hip width apart (about 12 inches). This provides a strong base of support and balance for you to work.
• Always bend at your hips and knees when lifting or stooping, instead of bending at the waist and overextending your back.
• Use the larger and stronger muscles of your thighs, hips, shoulders, and upper arms while bending or lifting objects. This protects your back and smaller muscles from injury.
• Hold heavy objects close to your body when lifting or carrying them.
• Turn your entire body, including your head and legs toward the task you are doing, rather than twisting.
• Remember good posture. Keep your back and trunk straight and aligned with your hips and your head facing forward toward the direction you are working. This prevents twisting, which increases your risk of injury.
• Always raise the bed to waist height when working with a patient who is in bed, or making a bed. This prevents unnecessary bending of your back.
• When pushing, place one leg forward. When pulling, move one leg back. This provides you with a stronger and more stable base of support than if both legs were next to eachother.
• Whenever possible, have another person help you with lifting, rolling, or moving patients.
• Have others help you with lifting or moving heavy objects.
• Do not perform tasks that will be physically dangerous to you, or for which you may not physically be capable.
• Keep in mind that when moving a patient, the path or direction in which you are moving must be clear of objects that could get in the way and cause potential injury.
• Always lock the brakes on the bed and wheelchair before transferring a patient. This prevents the bed or wheelchair from moving and causing potential injury to you or the patient.