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Checklist for care workers: community aged care services

A person-centred approach is a restraint free approach – a way of thinking that preserves the human rights of any person. All residents are entitled to respect and protection of their basic rights and freedoms, regardless of where they live. This entitlement includes all persons bearing a corresponding obligation to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of others.

PDF printable version of Checklist for care workers: community aged care services (PDF 208 KB)

Following is a text description of the checklist.

This checklist is provided to assist care workers for regular use to determine:

• whether a client is displaying behaviours that may be of concern; and/or
• whether a client is ‘at risk’ of being restrained.

Use of the checklist may assist in early identification of behaviour issues. Information gathered will inform any comprehensive assessment undertaken by a case manager.

Physical factors:

Options: Yes, No, N/A

• Where necessary find out more, document and report to case manager
• Have there been any changes to the client’s vision/hearing/senseof smell/sense of touch/sense of taste?
• What toileting routine does the service user have? Have there been any changes?
• Is the client unwell? Do they have uncontrolled pain?
• Does the client look unwell?
• Have there been any changes to the client’s medicines? If yes, find out more and document

Behaviour:

Where necessary find out more, document and report to case manager.

Options: Yes, No, N/A

• Have there been any changes to the client’s mood/speech/ thoughts?
• Does the client appear to be responding to hallucinations?
• Could the client be depressed?
• Has the client’s sleeping pattern changed?
• Was the change in behaviour sudden?

Communication:

Where necessary find out more, document and report to case manager.

Options: Yes, No, N/A

• Can the client hear OK?
• Is there anything in the home situation that is impacting on the client communicating?
• Is anyone talking down to the client? (Are you?)
• Can the client make clear what he/she wants to say?

Relationships:

Where necessary find out more, document and report to case manager'

Options: Yes, No, N/A

• What companionship does the client have?
• Has the client met or engaged with any different people around the time their behaviour changed or escalated?
• Have any different or unreasonable demands been made of client?
• Have there been any changes to the client’s representative/carer or family/friends or family pets?
• Has the way the service user responds to the client’s representative/carer or family/friends changed?
• Is the client being treated like an adult?
• Have the spiritual needs of the client been met?

Tasks

Where necessary find out more, document and report to case manager.

Options: Yes, No, N/A

• Have there been any changes to the routine of the client?
• Is the behaviour happening because of a routine change or an activity of the client’s representative/carer or a family member/friend/carer?

Physical environment:

Where necessary find out more, document and report to case manager.

Options: Yes, No, N/A

• Is the environment noisy or too quiet?
• Is the environment too hot / too cold?
• Is the environment too dark / too light?
• Are there any odours?
• Have there been any significant changes to the environment?
• Is the client able to find their way around the house OK?
• Is there a safe area in the house and outside for the client to wander?
• Does the client have a private space/room in the house to go into?

Restraint free options to consider

Stop Look Listen

for triggers to changes in behaviours to know when to put in place distraction activities.

Identify

familiar household and/or gardening tasks to keep active.

Organise

with relatives and/or friends planned visiting times and coordinate regular outings if possible.

Review timing

of meals/snacks and other activities like showering.

Ensure

there is a private and safe room in the house so that a specific behaviour of concern does not become an issue.

Avoid sensory overload

identify and minimise confusing sensory environments/loud or disliked music.

Use signs

with pictures around the house to minimise confusion and ensure adequate lighting.

Ask for specific assistance

to plan a possible arts and crafts activity program.

Ask for specific assistance

to plan a regular physical activity program.

Identify

at least one safe wandering area around the house which has easy access.

Do you need some respite

Do not be afraid to seek help and take a rest.

All information in this publication is correct as at August 2012