Practising individual care techniques
A care technique is a way of helping, such as helping to stand, feeding, dressing or bathing. In individual care the same technique is fitted to one person.
- Pick a method that suits the task (for example, helping from bed to chair).
- Fit it to the person: their strength, pain, fear, culture, habits and wishes. Ask them what works best.
- Do it safely: wash hands, explain, safe posture, equipment checked, privacy.
- Review: how did it go? Pain? Fear? Is the person tired? Could it be easier?
Practise a technique many times until it is smooth. Then ask your supervisor for feedback.
Practising the care process
The care process is a cycle of four steps:
- Assess: collect facts from the person, by observation, from records and from the family. Find strengths as well as problems.
- Plan: set a goal that is small, clear and kind, e.g. "walks to the door with a stick in 2 weeks". Choose methods, who does what and when.
- Do (implement): carry out the plan with the techniques you practised. Record what you did.
- Evaluate: compare what happened with the goal. Was it met? Why or why not?
After evaluating: keep the plan (goal met), adjust (partly met) or make a new plan (not met). Then assess again. The person and family should agree to the plan.
In a continuous practicum
You follow one person for days or weeks, so you see how needs change and whether your plan worked. Keep a daily note, share it with your supervisor and be honest about mistakes; this is how skill grows.
Try it
Try it: pick a family member or friend. Ask three questions: what do you like to do, what is hard for you, and what would help? Write one small goal and one method. After one week ask if it helped, then keep, adjust or re-plan.
Key formulas and definitions
- Care process = Assess + Plan + Do + Evaluate (repeat)
- Assess = talk + watch + records + family
- Goal = small, clear, kind, with a date
- Evaluate: met (keep), partly (adjust), not met (new plan)
Worked examples
1. Write a small goal for a person who is afraid to walk after a fall.
Goal: "Walks 10 steps with the walker, with the helper beside her, every day for 1 week." It is small, clear, measurable and has a time. Methods: walk after breakfast, encourage, rest between sets.
2. After 2 weeks the person reaches only half the goal. What now?
Partly met, so adjust. Find the reason (pain? fear? timing?), change one thing, such as a shorter walk twice a day, then evaluate again after a week.
3. List the four sources for assessment and one fact from each.
Talk: likes tea and old songs. Watch: needs help with buttons. Records: had a stroke in March. Family: used to cook for the family.
Common mistakes
- Writing one standard plan for every person.
- Setting a goal that is too big or has no time.
- Never evaluating, or ignoring the result.
- Not asking the person and family about the plan.