Home Health Aide On-the-Go In-Service Lessons: Vol. 7, Issue 8: The Patients Pets (Home Health Aide on-the-Go in-Service Lessons, Volume 7) (Home Health Aide On-the-go In-service Lessons, Volume 7, 8)

This lesson on The Patient s Pets includes a complete training packet. Each in-service packet takes approximately one hour to complete and fully meets the Medicare in-service training requirements. As aides need training, you can make as many copies as you want - there s no restriction when used with aides assigned from your office location. Remember that Home Health Aides must have 12 hours of in-service training every year. LESSON OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this program, the home health aide will be able to: Identify three positive health benefits patients can get from their pets Explain three ways to approach a patient s pet safely, and Describe two ways to minimize allergies when working near pets. OVERVIEW Home health aides often provide care to patients who have pets in the home. Studies show that pets can play a significant role in an individual s health by their ability to make their owners feel more comfortable during stressful bouts of illness, recovering from major surgeries, or experiencing the loss of a spouse or other important person in their lives. The bond between patients and their pets is often established before the onset of illness, so their relationship with these pets offers positive memories and a sense of encouragement for whatever they face in the future. In addition to providing quality care for patients, it is important for home health aides to learn how to manage and work around a patient s pet. This in-service provides a closer look at several types of pets, along with routine care-giving requirements, and your role as a home health aide in providing that care safely in this environment.