Home Health Aide

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  Course Name: Orientation to Health Science Professions Program Name: Health Science Course Number: 8400110 Course Type: Orientation/Exploratory CIP Number: 03179999OR CTE-HLTH.68.8400110.2.5 List the advantages and disadvantages of one occupation in each pathway including the following factors; job description, career pathway/area of interest, and salary range. CTE-HLTH.68.8400110.2.2 List employability/soft skills and characteristics needed to be successful in the workplace. For Example: punctuality, dependability, and communication skills. Course Name: Exploration of Health Occupations and Career Planning Program Name: Health Science Course Number: 8400210 Course Type: Orientation/Exploratory CIP Number: 03179999CE CTE-HLTH.68.8400210.1.5 List the advantages and disadvantages of one occupation in each pathway including the following factors; job description, career pathway/area of interest, salary range, educational requirements, and job outlook. CTE-HLTH.68.8400210.9.1 Develop skills to locate, evaluate, and interpret career information. CTE-HLTH.68.8400210.11.1 Demonstrate employability skills such as working in a group, problem-solving and organizational skills, and the importance of entrepreneurship. Course Name: Exploration of Health Science Professions Program Name: Health Science Course Number: 8400310 Course Type: Orientation/Exploratory CIP Number: 03179999EX CTE-HLTH.68.8400310.1.5 List the advantages and disadvantages of one occupation in each pathway including the following factors; job description, career pathway/area of interest, salary range, educational requirements, and job outlook.

• Unit Outline

  
  

  This lesson should be used with the Case Study "The Impact of Parkinson’s Disease" (See CPALMS Resource ID 220378). This is the second lesson for this case study and can be preceded by the lesson “Quality of Life” (See CPALMS Resource ID 220215).

• Career Connection

  
  

  Students will explore the career of a home health aide. Students will evaluate their own interest in pursuing this career.

  Students will collaborate to complete the tasks at each station. Students will use metacognition to manage their time through the stations, paying attention to the details and tasks for each station. Students will discuss the importance of self-motivation/initiative in home health aides.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students will be able to:

  • Describe the career of a home health aide, including job description, job duties, education/training, and work environment.
  • Research current salary and job outlook for this career.
  • Identify advantages and disadvantages of the career of a home health aide.
  • Explore career skills of a home health aide, such as assisting with activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive stimulation of the patient, and helping a patient with balance/strength exercises.
  • Explain the importance of self-motivation when working with patients with chronic disease, such as Parkinson’s Disease.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  Students should be familiar with/able to:

  • Understanding that some diseases are permanent and cannot be cured.
  • Understanding that some diseases/conditions impact a person’s ability to live and function independently.
  • Understanding that some people with chronic illnesses may need daily medical care.
  • Quality of Life is a person’s opinion of their overall health and happiness.
  • Quality of Life can be impacted by disease.

• Guiding Questions

  
  
  • What is a home health aide?
  • What are some activities that a home health aid might help a patient with?
  • What training and/or education is needed to become a home health aide?
  • Why is self-motivation (initiative) important in this field?

• Procedure

  
  
  1. Pose the following bellwork/warm-up question: “Have you ever seen an elderly or disabled person at a store with a healthcare worker?”
     • Then, have students discuss their answer with a partner.
     • Call on students to share with the class.
       
       
  2. Review the case study, “The Impact of Parkinson’s Disease” (See CPALMS Resource ID 220378) with students. Then, discuss these questions, as a class:
     • What symptoms is Lois experiencing? (deteriorating memory and posture, shaking hand, slowness of movement, balance problems)
     • What are some of the things Lois might need help with based on her wrist injury?
     • What ideas did Andrew and Meredith have about making Lois’ condo safer?
     • Lois’ children discussed getting extra help for Lois by hiring a home health aide. What do you know about home health aides?
       
       
  3. Activity: Home Health Aide Stations (approx. 5-10 min. per station)
     • Students will explore the career of a home health aide by exploring 4 stations.
       
       • Station 1: career information, including: job description, duties, education/ training, and work environment
       • Station 2: research current salary, job outlook, and local HHA companies
       • Station 3: activities of daily living (ADLs)
       • Station 4: cognitive stimulation and memory game
       • Station 5: assist patient with wrist and balance exercises
     • They will answer questions about each station on the “Home Health Aide Worksheet.” (Answer key provided.)
       
       
  4. Closure: Follow-Up discussion:
  • • Home health aides help patients with activities of daily life (ADLs), such as feeding, grooming, bathing, light housework, etc. How does this assistance help a patient live on their own?
    • Self-Motivation is the ability to take action, without being told to do it. Why is self-motivation important when working with elderly patients and those with chronic illnesses?

• Teacher Notes

  
  
  • The stations are designed for students to work in pairs. The teacher should set up groups in advance.
  • Note: Please review guidelines for group work, such as remaining on-task, positive/encouraging team talk, flexibility, equal participation, etc.
  • Lesson pacing: 15 minutes for the case study and discussion questions; 35 minutes for the stations; 5 minutes for follow up discussion
  • The teacher may informally assess learning through group discussion and observation of students during the station activity. The teacher can formally assess students through their answers on the station assignment. An optional "exit ticket" is also provided.

• Optional

  
  

  Extension Ideas:

  • Invite a home health aide to be a guest speaker.
  • Explore other tasks a home health aide might complete, such as patient transfer, taking vital signs, reading medication labels (to administer to patients), helping a patient use a wheelchair or walker, etc.
  • Have students research local schools that offer a home health aide program.
  • Have students research the career of “certified nursing assistant” (CNA) and compare it to home health aides.
  • Have students research other exercises for Parkinson’s Disease patients and create a workout plan for them.
  • Optional Bonus Station: Bandaging the Wrist (directions attached)
  • Optional: Home Health Aide Exit Ticket (attached)
  • Discuss and practice proper body mechanics for working with patients, patient transfer, and/or lifting heavy objects.