Florida Homemaker/Companion - Initial Training

Our collection of courses for orientation training of Homemaker/Companions in Florida, is designed to align with the description of the role in Section 59A-18.009 - Homemakers or Companions in the Florida Administrative Code. Additionally, this collection offers two hours of dementia care training to be completed in the first ... Read more

  • 12 courses
  • 13 hours hours
Florida Homemaker/Companion - Initial Training

Core Training

Course Description

Professionalism in the Healthcare Setting is a comprehensive course designed for caregivers who aim to provide high-quality care to their patients. This course focuses on the essential skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for maintaining a professional demeanor in a healthcare environment. Through this course, caregivers will learn the importance of ethical conduct, effective communication, teamwork, and cultural competence in delivering care to patients with diverse backgrounds and needs. By developing a strong foundation in professionalism, caregivers will be better equipped to navigate the challenges and complexities of the healthcare setting, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Course Topics

  • Understand the importance of ethical conduct and decision-making
  • Develop effective communication skills for better patient interaction
  • Learn the principles of teamwork and collaboration in healthcare settings
  • Recognize the significance of cultural competence in patient care
  • Explore strategies for managing stress and maintaining work-life balance

Course Description

Home Management is a comprehensive course designed for caregivers who are responsible for the well-being and daily care of individuals in a home setting. The course focuses on providing the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage various aspects of home life, including meal planning, housekeeping, laundry, budgeting, and time management. This intermediate-level course aims to enhance the caregiver's ability to create a safe, comfortable, and organized living environment for their clients, while promoting independence and personal growth.

Course Topics

  • Housekeeping techniques and organization
  • Laundry management and clothing care
  • Budgeting and financial management
  • Time management and scheduling
  • Home safety and emergency preparedness
  • Special considerations for clients with specific needs (e.g., disabilities, chronic illnesses)
  • Communication and conflict resolution skills in a home setting

Course Description

Basic Housekeeping is a course designed for caregivers who aim to maintain a clean, safe, and organized living environment for their clients. The course focuses on providing practical knowledge and skills essential for efficient housekeeping, including cleaning techniques, proper use of cleaning products and equipment, organization, and time management. The course also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy and hygienic environment for the clients, ensuring their comfort and well-being. As an intermediate-level course, it builds upon fundamental housekeeping concepts and explores more advanced topics relevant to the caregiver's role.

Course Topics

  • Safe and efficient cleaning techniques
  • Proper use of cleaning products and equipment
  • Organization and decluttering strategies
  • Handling laundry and linens
  • Basic home maintenance and safety checks
  • Adapting housekeeping strategies for clients with specific needs or conditions

Course Description

Meal Preparation for Clients is a practical course designed for caregivers to enhance their skills in planning, preparing, and serving nutritious and balanced meals for their clients. This course will cover various aspects of meal planning, taking into account the dietary needs, preferences, and restrictions of the clients, as well as food safety and hygiene practices. Caregivers will learn about essential nutrients, portion control, and meal planning strategies to ensure that their clients receive the nourishment they need to maintain good health and well-being. The course also includes tips and techniques for making mealtime an enjoyable and social experience for clients, promoting their overall quality of life.

Course Topics

  • Nutritional needs and dietary restrictions of clients
  • Food safety and hygiene practices
  • Meal planning strategies and techniques
  • Portion control and serving sizes
  • Essential nutrients and their role in maintaining health
  • Tips for making mealtime an enjoyable experience for clients

Course Description

This course will cover the activities of daily living (ADLs) which are the essential, everyday tasks that we need to perform in order to live independently such as eating, bathing, and ambulating. As a caregiver, you can greatly assist those who, for cognitive, physical, and other reasons, are unable to independently complete their ADLs. In this course, you will learn how to assess clients' need for assistance with ADLs as well as learn practical ways to assist them. Assisting with ADLs is more than doing something for your client; it is helping them to do as much as they can for themselves.

Course Topics

  • Describe ADLs
  • Assess and monitor independence with ADLs
  • How to assist your client with bathing and grooming
  • How to assist your client in the shower or bath
  • How to perform a bed bath
  • How to provide hair care for different hair types and textures
  • How to assist your client to wash their hair in the sink, shower, or in bed
  • Assist your client with dressing while promoting independence
  • Obstacles to proper toileting and how to help clients
  • Importance of ambulation and assisting with transfers
  • Describe how to assist your client with eating and drinking

Course Description

Assisting with iADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) is a course designed for caregivers to help them develop the skills and knowledge necessary to provide support and assistance to patients who have difficulties performing everyday tasks. iADLs are activities that allow individuals to live independently, such as shopping, preparing meals, managing finances, and using communication devices. As a caregiver, understanding how to assist patients with iADLs is crucial for promoting their independence, safety, and overall well-being.

Course Topics

  • Describe what iADLs are
  • Outline the importance of iADLs
  • Describe how to assess a client’s ability to perform iADLs
  • Describe how you should approach assisting your client with iADLs
  • Describe the tasks you may have to perform when assisting a client with iADLs

Course Description

The Control of Contagious and Infectious Diseases course is designed for personal care attendants to educate and equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to prevent the spread of contagious and infectious diseases in the health care setting. The course focuses on understanding the nature of infectious diseases, modes of transmission, prevention techniques, and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) usage. Additionally, the course highlights the importance of proper hygiene, sanitation, and disinfection practices to maintain a safe and healthy environment for both the caregiver and the patient.

Course Topics

  • Understand common pathogens and their modes of transmission
  • Identify proper hand hygiene techniques and their importance
  • Learn about personal protective equipment (PPE) and its correct use
  • Recognize the importance of proper cleaning, sanitation, and disinfection
  • Familiarize with reporting requirements and procedures for infectious diseases

Course Description

Observation, Reporting, and Documentation are essential skills for caregivers, as they play a crucial role in providing accurate information about a patient's condition, progress, and needs. These skills are vital for maintaining patient safety, ensuring appropriate care, and facilitating communication among healthcare professionals. This course aims to equip caregivers with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively observe, report, and document critical information regarding their patients' well-being.

Course Topics

  • Techniques for effective observation and assessment of patients
  • Recognizing and reporting changes in a patient's condition
  • Proper documentation of patient care and progress
  • Confidentiality and legal considerations in documentation
  • Communication with healthcare professionals and interdisciplinary teams
  • Using technology for documentation and reporting purposes

Course Description

This course is designed for caregivers who want to enhance their knowledge and skills in reporting essential body functions to the registered nurse supervisor. As an intermediate-level course, it delves into the critical aspects of monitoring and reporting vital signs, changes in patients' conditions, and other essential information to ensure the well-being of those under the caregivers' care. Understanding the basic elements of body functions and being able to report them accurately and timely is crucial for caregivers to provide effective care and support.

Course Topics

  • Identifying and monitoring vital signs
  • Recognizing changes in patients' conditions that require reporting
  • Documenting and reporting patient information accurately
  • Communicating effectively with the registered nurse supervisor
  • Understanding the roles and responsibilities of the caregiver and registered nurse supervisor
  • Ensuring patient confidentiality and privacy

Course Description

Introduction to Dementia Care is a course designed to provide an understanding of dementia, its various types, and the impact it has on individuals, families, and caregivers. This course is for home health aides who want to gain knowledge about dementia and the strategies that can be used when providing care. The course will help learners understand the challenges faced by people with dementia, as well as the best practices for providing support and care to enhance their quality of life.

Course Topics

  • Understand the symptoms and progression of dementia
  • Recognize the impact of dementia on individuals and their families
  • Learn effective communication techniques for people with dementia
  • Understand the importance of person-centered care
  • Identify strategies for managing challenging behaviors in dementia care
  • Explore the role of activities and environmental factors in dementia care

Additional Required Dementia Training

Course Description

Communication Strategies in Dementia Care is a course specifically designed for caregiving staff to enhance their skills in effectively communicating with patients suffering from dementia. Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects cognitive abilities, leading to challenges in communication and understanding. This course aims to equip caregivers with the knowledge and techniques necessary to provide compassionate and effective care to patients with dementia while maintaining a strong emotional connection.

Course Topics

  • Identifying common communication challenges in dementia care
  • Utilizing effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques
  • Implementing active listening and empathy in dementia care
  • Adapting communication strategies to different stages of dementia
  • Recognizing and managing challenging behaviors in dementia patients
  • Supporting patients' independence and dignity through effective communication
  • Collaborating with other healthcare professionals in dementia care

Course Description

Managing Challenging Behaviors in Dementia is a comprehensive course designed to help caregivers develop a deeper understanding of dementia-related behaviors and equip them with practical strategies for managing these behaviors effectively. The course covers various aspects of dementia care, including understanding the causes of challenging behaviors and implementing person-centered approaches to care. Caregivers will learn techniques for managing agitation, aggression, wandering, and other common dementia behaviors, as well as communication strategies for effectively interacting with individuals with dementia. The ultimate goal of this course is to improve the quality of life for both the person with dementia and the caregiver.

Course Topics

  • Identifying the causes of challenging behaviors in dementia
  • Person-centered approaches to dementia care
  • Techniques for managing agitation, aggression, and wandering
  • Communication strategies for individuals with dementia
  • Developing a care plan for managing challenging behaviors
  • Supporting caregivers' mental and emotional well-being