Attendant Caregiver

- Assist the patient with activities of daily living (ADL’s) such as personal hygiene, ambulating, eating, dressing, shaving, bathing, or showering as assigned by the nurse in the attendant care plan.

- Assist with ostomy bag changes, reinforcing dressings, g-tube and catheter care (if competency checked).

- Assist with prescribed range of motion exercises which the attendant and the patient have been taught by a health care professional.

- Assist with prescribed ice cap or collar, measuring and preparing special diets, assist with blood glucose testing as needed/ordered (if competency checked).

- Measuring and recording input and output of fluids.

- Observing for the appearance of gross behavioral changes in the patient and reporting to the RN case manager or other member of the clinical team.

- Maintain patient care areas in a clean, safe environment, adequate for the provision of care.

- Provides medication reminders and assist the patient to take medications as prescribed.

- Follow and document assignments in accordance with the attendant care plan. Only document care actually given. Falsification of visit documents is grounds for immediate termination. It is also against the law and prosecution may ensue.

- Transfer patients in a safe manner, in accordance with standards of care.

- Attendants are members of the interdisciplinary team. The attendants must report changes in the patient’s condition to a RN or other appropriate skilled professional.

- Electronically document care provided on each visit/shift. Call any shift time changes to the office. Call for authorization for extending a shift or adding a shift to assure that there is a payer source for the care. All hours/shifts must be assigned and approved by the Tendercare office prior to working. Failure to do so can lead to disciplinary action.

- Employees must be able to pass a fit-to-work physical exam including the essential functions including the ability to bend, lift 50 pounds, push, pull, walk, stand, climb stairs, full range of motion of all extremities, and able to get up and down from the floor. Additionally, free from communicable disease.

- Any Tendercare employee that raises reasonable belief based on objective evidence that their ability to perform basic job functions is impaired, and that they pose a direct threat (to themselves or to their patients) will be referred to Occupational Health for a Fit-to-Work physical exam.