COURSE PREREQUISITE(S):                              CNA                                         

                                                                                      or

                                                                      Physical Therapy Aide            

                                                                                      or

                                                                  Physical Therapy Technician  

                                                                                      or

                                                                     Patient Care Technician          

                                                                                      or

                                                                    Clinical Medical Assistant      

PROGRAM DURATION:                                      2 weeks            

COURSE OUTLINE :

The goal of this course is to advance the knowledge of the student

Restorative Aides work with individuals who need physical therapy or other restorative treatment. Their primary duty is to address range-of-motion and mobility issues that can impact a person's life and lifestyle. Because Restorative Aides work with everything from rehabilitation after surgery to strokes, clients are not limited to the elderly or residents of long term care facilities.

Under the guidance of a therapist, Restorative Aides assist with therapy activities and are responsible for documenting their clients' progress. The Aide is an active part of a client's recovery, and works as part of a care team. Like CNAs, Restorative Aides often serve as the first point of patient contact and spend a significant part of their time working closely with clients. It is a very hands-on job and requires patience and a genuine interest in the well-being of clients.

Our class is specifically aimed at CNAs currently working in (or interested in) an elder care setting such as a nursing home or assisted living facility. The class addresses the following topics:

• What a rehabilitation unit is and how it functions.

 

• Effects of aging, inactivity, and disability.

 

• Basic anatomy and how the body moves.

 

• Medical problems that will interfere with functional independence.

 

• How to help residents in ways that will promote independence.

 

• What to look for when helping someone walk.

 

• How to help someone perform basic exercise.

 

• Common equipment used in rehabilitation.

 

• Basic balance responses and activities to improve balance.

 

• Ways to interact with residents.

 

• Ambulation, gait training, and range of motion

 

• Improving or maintaining mobility and independence

 

• Balancing and reaching

 

• Proper wheelchair use and positioning of leg extenders and footrests

 

• Body alignment in beds, chairs, and wheelchairs

 

• Proper placement of catheters and drainage bags

According to the US Department of Labor, "Employment of occupational therapist assistants and aides is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for occupational therapist assistants and aides will continue to rise because of the increasing number of individuals with disabilities or limited function." (source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos166.htm). They also point out that our growing elderly population has an ever increasing need for therapeutic services, and that these services are most often provided by Aides.