Social Service Assistants are members of interdisciplinary health care teams within the LTC facility. They work under the supervision of licensed social workers and other staff who have more education and experience, and assist these professionals with their daily tasks. They often conduct admission interviews, inform residents and their families of their rights, advocate for residents with social services organizations, help residents adjust to living in the facility, and coordinate care services. Coordinating care services may involve ensuring that Medicare and other billing issues are appropriately handled, informing mental health and medical staff if residents require services and scheduling medical and other appointments for residents.
This course will cover content that includes professionalism, documentation and ethics, social service related regulations, the admission process, assessment documentation, MDS/RAPS, care planning, resident rights, abuse prevention, survey and survey process, discharge planning, disease processes, the effects of aging, and the end of life pain process. After completing this course, you will be ready to work in the following states: WA, CA, ID, WY, NM, ND, KS, OK, TX, MN, MO, WI, TN, AL, OH, WV, NH, FL. Additional training and/or licensing may be required in other states.
Instructor(s):Cindy Gaschler
Cindy Gaschler has worked in the healthcare field since 1999. She began her career as a CNA, then completed her LPN, and continued with an ADN degree. She functioned as a Long-Term Care charge nurse, Inpatient Rehabilitation nurse, MDS Coordinator, and Director of Nursing. Following this she re-enrolled in college and obtained a BSN while performing duties of Human Resources, Staff Development Coordinator, Risk Management, Health Information Management, and Senior Living Manager.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 8 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:
Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.
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Lesson 1
- Unit 1
- History of long-term care
- Philosophy of person-centered care
- Basic knowledge of the aging process
- Misconceptions
- Physical Changes
- Cognitive changes: Dementia, Alzheimer's
- Mental Health/Illness
- Psychosocial needs
- Overview of applicable regulations
- The Survey Process
- OBRA resident rights
- Advocacy in self-determination
- Resident/family councils
- Unit 2
- Types and techniques used for the admission and discharge process
- Principles of documentation
- Basic performance skills
- Management of internal support staff, budgeting, supplies and outside resources
- Getting to know the person
- Person Centered Care Plan Development
- Evaluation of care plan effectiveness
- Unit 3
- History and Philosophy
- Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers and other ethical issues.
- Role of the supervisor
- Admission Process
- Discharge
- Advocacy
- Mediation
- Problem solving
- Supportive services
- Assist with financial planning
- Assist with legal issues
- Professionalism
- Marketing
- Orientation
- Transportation and appointments
- Unit 4
- The social services assistant and the rest of the team.
- The social services assistant and the resident
- The social services assistant and the family
- The social services assistant and the community
- Social history
- Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) - Social services assistants provide input, but may not complete
- Individualized Care Plan
- Progress notes
- Intervention notes
- Hospice
- Medicare/Medicaid
- SRS
- Adult Protective Services
- Prepare for additional "nuts and bolts" issues involved in working as a Social Services Assistant.
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