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Table of Contents Introduction: About This Book 1 Why Should I Read This Book? 1 How to Use This Book 1 Chapter One: Your Role as an Assisted Living Caregiver 5 Learning Objectives 6 Lesson One: The Philosophy of Assisted Living and Three Key Principles 7 Lesson Two: Your Role as an Assisted Living Caregiver 13 Lesson Three: Resident s Rights: Caregiving in the Resident s Home 18 Lesson Four: Special Care When a Resident Moves In 23 Self-Check Questions 26 Chapter Two: Your Role in Infection Control 29 Learning Objectives 30 Lesson One: How Infections Happen 31 Lesson Two: What Is Infection Control? 34 Lesson Three: Proper Handwashing for Assisted Living 38 Lesson Four: Using Personal Protective Equipment 41 Self-Check Questions 43 Medical Awareness: Understanding, Observing, and Recording the Aging Process v 1.0 iii
Chapter Three: The ACT of Emergencies and Other Medical Situations 45 Learning Objectives 46 Lesson One: How to ACT During Medical Situations 47 Lesson Two: ACT in Emergencies 50 Lesson Three: ACT in Choking 62 Lesson Four: ACT in Falls 66 Lesson Five: ACT in Fainting 69 Lesson Six: ACT in a Seizure 71 Lesson Seven: ACT in Bleeding 73 Lesson Eight: ACT in Nosebleeds 76 Lesson Nine: ACT With Burns 78 Lesson Ten: ACT in Heat-Related Illnesses 80 Lesson Eleven: ACT in Diabetic Emergencies 83 Self-Check Questions 88 Chapter Four: Measuring Vital Signs 91 Learning Objectives 92 Lesson One: The Five W s of Vital Signs 93 Lesson Two: Taking a Temperature 97 Lesson Three: Taking a Pulse 110 Lesson Four: Counting Respirations 117 Lesson Five: Taking Blood Pressure 121 Lesson Six: Measuring Weight 127 Self-Check Questions 131 Medical Awareness: Understanding, Observing, and Recording the Aging Process v 1.0 v
Chapter Five: Observing Residents: Reporting and Recording Your Resident Care 133 Learning Objectives 134 Lesson One: How to Observe the Resident 135 Lesson Two: Oral Reports 139 Lesson Three: Written Reports 142 Lesson Four: Common Medical Terms and Abbreviations 144 Self-Check Questions 147 Chapter Six: What Caregivers Need to Know About Medication Management 149 Learning Objectives 150 Lesson One: Overview of Medications in Assisted Living 151 Lesson Two: The Caregiver s Role in Medication Management 154 Lesson Three: Medications and the Assisted Living Resident 159 Self-Check Questions 165 Chapter Seven: Your Role In Restorative and Rehabilitative Care 167 Learning Objectives 168 Lesson One: What Is Restorative and Rehabilitative Care? 169 Lesson Two: Assistive Devices in Restorative and Rehabilitative Care 172 Lesson Three: Bowel and Bladder Care and the Three Key Principles 175 Lesson Four: The Importance of Motion 179 Self-Check Questions 183 vi
Chapter Eight: What Happens as We Age? 185 Learning Objectives 186 Lesson One: Overview of the Aging Process 187 Lesson Two: Integumentary System 189 Lesson Three: Sensory System 192 Lesson Four: Cardiovascular System 196 Lesson Five: Respiratory System 200 Lesson Six: Musculoskeletal System 206 Lesson Seven: Gastrointestinal System 211 Lesson Eight: Endocrine System 217 Lesson Nine: Nervous System 221 Lesson Ten: Genitourinary System 226 Self-Check Questions 232 Chapter Nine: Emotional and Social Changes With Aging 235 Learning Objectives 236 Lesson One: A Resident s Emotional and Social Needs 237 Lesson Two: Changes With Aging 240 Lesson Three: Common Psychological Problems Related to Aging 243 Self-Check Questions 246 Chapter Ten: Caring for the Resident at the End of Life 247 Learning Objectives 248 Lesson One: Caregivers Attitudes Toward Death and Dying 249 Lesson Two: Residents Attitudes Toward Death and Dying 251 Lesson Three: Caregiver Support When Death Is Approaching 254 Lesson Four: Signs of Approaching Death 258 Lesson Five: Legal Considerations of Death and Dying 260 Self-Check Questions 262 Medical Awareness: Understanding, Observing, and Recording the Aging Process v 1.0 vii
Appendix A: Pre-admission Needs Assessment and Individualized Service Plan (ISP) 265 Appendix B: Answers to Self-Check Questions 271 viii