Following the service plan – Introduction to aged care video

Tamika:

I always wanted to help people. That’s why I wanted to work in aged care. But today I learned I can’t just do whatever I think I should for people. Things have to be approved and planned out. Judith helped me to understand that different people get different help. Not everyone gets the same sort of help but that’s because some people don’t need that sort of help. We’ve got to follow a plan that tells us what every person needs for that day. It’s called a service plan. We also have to write down or tick off everything that we do then everybody knows it’s done and this helps aged care keep good records.

Enid:

Thanks for coming back. I know there was a lot to take in yesterday getting you started on aged care support.

Delia:

Yeah.

Enid:

Now that all the paperwork’s sorted out the staff need to know exactly what your help will look like and I need to add you to the daily service plan and roster.

Delia:

Okay.

Enid:

We’ve agreed that you need your laundry done but do you need to have your clothes and blankets washed or just your blankets?

Margaret:

Mum just needs her blankets washed. I can wash her clothes. We’ve got a small washing machine that can do that.

Enid:

Okay. I’ll write in the care plan that family will wash your clothes and we will wash your blankets Delia. We can fit you in on either Tuesday or Thursday every fortnight. What would you like?

Delia:

Can you pick up on Tuesday but will you get them back to me by the afternoon?

Enid:

Yes. We’ll pick them up early, straight after the breakfast has been delivered. But don’t worry. If we can’t get them back to you by the end of the day we’ll arrange for you to get a loan blanket. Now how about your meals? Are you happy to get them the same as you have been the last couple of weeks?

Delia:

Yes. But can you take my lunch to the art centre on Thursday because I’m painting there?

Enid:

Okay. So that just leaves transport. When do you need that?

Delia:

Pension day because that shopping, it’s too heavy for me.

Enid:

Right. I’ll put you on the roster for pension day pick up and drop off. Well that’s all I need to know to finish off the roster for staff. I’ll write this on our daily service plan so we can start helping you this week.

Judith and Tamika pick up Betty, Alice and Delia’s washing once you’ve delivered the breakfast. It’s their wash day.

Tamika:

What are you ticking off?

Judith:

When we help a client like delivering Delia’s breakfast I’ve got to tick it off on this sheet. It shows Enid what we done.

Tamika:

Why does Enid need that?

Judith:

This is for her reports. This tick sheet is a part of the daily service plan. The plan tells us what help each person gets and when we have to give them that help.

Tamika:

So I’ve just got to tick it off every time?

Judith:

Meals and transport. You’ve got to tick them off. But for laundry, cleaning and other stuff you’ve got to write down the time it took you.

Tamika:

I see. What happens if someone’s away? Do we still tick?

Judith:

No. If people are away they don’t get our help or a meal that day. They don’t get a tick. We’ve got to make sure the numbers are right for Enid’s reporting.

Tamika:

Oh okay. I’ll remember that. Here’s Betty’s place. I’ll give out her breakfast.

Judith:

Wait Tamika. We’ll come back for Betty’s washing after we’ve finished dropping off the breakfast.

Tamika:

But this will make it quicker. We don’t have to come back.

Judith:

You’re right. It makes it faster but we can’t mix up dirty washing with the meals. We’ve got to keep them separate so that we don’t contaminate the food.

Tamika:

Oh I see. Sorry Betty. We’ll be back soon to pick up your washing.

Betty’s breakfast. Give it a tick.

Judith:

There you go.

Here. Put on the gloves.

Tamika:

Why I got to do that?

Judith:

It protects you from getting an infection. We do this whenever we handle dirty laundry.

Tamika:

Yep. Okay.

Sarah wants her washing done too? Shall I put it in the back with the others?

Judith:

No. We can’t take her washing. We don’t have Sarah on the list to get her washing done.

Tamika:

That doesn’t seem fair. She gets meals. What about her washing?

Judith:

She’s got to be approved first. If Sarah needs help with her washing she can tell Enid. Enid will help her talk to My Aged Care and get washing added to her approved services if she needs that sort of help. Then she can go on the roster.

Tamika:

So all services have to be approved and planned out?

Judith:

Yes. All services. If you think someone needs more help tell me or Enid. Now you go tell Sarah that we’ll let Enid know and she can help her talk to My Aged Care about us doing her washing.

Tamika. She now understands that she’s got to follow that service plan. She can’t just do things for clients if they haven’t been approved. She follows the plan and records things properly. Do you know how to record services properly?