Promotion of Function and Health of Residents
Mobility and positioning
Promote independence whenever possible. Encourage active range of motion that the resident can perform; provide passive range of motion only as trained and ordered. Support joints, move slowly, and never force a joint against resistance or pain. Reposition residents at least every two hours or per care plan, and logroll when trained. Use a gait belt for transfers and ambulation, lock wheelchair brakes, and stand on the resident’s weaker side to support them. Do not pull on arms or use bed rails as restraints.
Nutrition, hydration, and elimination
Watch for swallowing problems: coughing, choking, pocketing food, a wet voice, or drooling. Feed slowly with small bites, keep the resident upright, and check food temperature. Encourage fluids unless restricted, and record intake and output accurately. Follow toileting schedules and report constipation, diarrhea, or signs of dehydration. Provide perineal care front to back.
Skin and restorative care
Inspect skin during care, keep skin clean and dry, offload pressure, and report redness that does not blanch or any break in skin. Restorative care means encouraging self-care, exercise, and ADLs per the plan, then praising effort.
Traps and rule of thumb
Do not assume confusion is normal aging; report changes. Do not force range of motion. If a resident can do part of a task, let them do that part and assist only with what they cannot. Example: for a resident with a weak right arm, dress the weak side first and undress the strong side first.