SELF DIRECTED ATTENDANT CARE MEMBER MANUAL
 	TABLE OF CONTENTS 	

MEMBER INFORMATION		
Mission and Vision..................................................................	1	
General Information ...............................................................	2	
Member Roles, Rights and Responsibilities ...............................	5	
Attendant Care Worker Roles, Rights and Responsibilities..........	7	
Case Manager Roles, Rights and Responsibilities ......................	9	
Fiscal Employer Agent Roles, Rights and Responsibilities ........... 11
Appeal and Grievance Rights................................................... 12

Needs and Service Planning .................................................... 13
Deciding What is Important ............................................ 14
Determining Your Needs and Service Plan ....................... 15
Using “What Do I Need” Checklist ................................... 17
Determining Training Needs for the Member.................... 17
Determining Hours ........................................................ 18

Finding an Attendant Care Worker........................................... 19
Hiring: Job Description .................................................. 20
Finding Workers/Advertising ........................................... 23
Pros and Cons of Hiring.................................................. 25
Screening, Interviewing and Background Checks.............. 26
Choosing a Qualified Person ........................................... 32

After Hiring an Attendant Care Worker..................................... 34
Employment Agreement and Schedule ............................ 36
Fiscal Employer Agent .................................................... 37
Training Your ACW ........................................................ 38

Being A Successful Employer................................................... 41
General Information....................................................... 42
Evaluating Your Attendant Care Worker........................... 44
Pointers on Supportive Feedback .................................... 45
Letting Your Attendant Care Worker Go........................... 46
Boundaries.................................................................... 47

i

Ensuring Quality Service ......................................................... 49
Quality Service Defined .................................................. 50
Creating and Maintaining A Backup Plan .......................... 51
Planning for Emergencies and Keeping Safe..................... 53
Fall Prevention .............................................................. 54
Fraud, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation ........................... 56
Identity Theft: Minimize Your Risk ................................. 58

Medical Decisions ................................................................... 60
Advance Directives ........................................................ 61
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) .............................................. 62

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS AND ATTENDANT CARE WORKERS

Communication...................................................................... 64
Communication Skills ..................................................... 65
Managing Emotions ....................................................... 69
Conflict Management ..................................................... 70
Stress Management................................................................ 71
Stress and Anxiety ......................................................... 72
Relaxation Techniques ................................................... 73
Home and Fire Safety............................................................. 77
Fire Safety .................................................................... 78
Additional Help and Information .............................................. 82

TRAINING INFORMATION AND MATERIALS FOR THE MEMBER

Introduction .......................................................................... 89
Required Training .................................................................. 92
Suggested Training/Other Training .......................................... 94
Training and Orientation Schedule........................................... 96
Training Schedule .......................................................... 96
Orientation Day One ...................................................... 97
Orientation Day Two ...................................................... 99
Orientation Day Three.................................................... 100
Orientation Day Four ..................................................... 101
Orientation Day Five and Ongoing................................... 102

TRAINING MATERIALS AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR THE ATTENDANT CARE WORKER

Attendant Care Worker Roles, Rights and Responsibilities.......... 104
Universal Precautions (Mandatory Training) ............................. 106
HIPAA (Mandatory Training) ................................................... 111
Attendant Care Worker Code of Conduct.................................. 113
Caregiver Burnout .................................................................. 115
Fraud, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation .................................... 119
Home and Fire Safety............................................................. 124
Fall Prevention .............................................................. 125
Fire Safety .................................................................... 127
Safety Tips for Attendant Care Workers ................................... 128
Things to Know as an Attendant Care Worker .......................... 129
Attendant Care Worker Tips ........................................... 130
Boundaries.................................................................... 131
Communication Skills ..................................................... 133
Maintaining a Clean Environment .................................... 135
Cleaning ....................................................................... 136
Nutrition and Food Handling Guidelines ........................... 138
Proper Body Mechanics .................................................. 142
Mobility......................................................................... 144
Transferring and Ambulation .......................................... 146
Bathing......................................................................... 148
Providing a Bed Bath ..................................................... 150

Information About Diseases .................................................... 151
Alzheimer’s ................................................................... 152
Arthritis ........................................................................ 154
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ........................... 155
Congestive Heart Failure ................................................ 156
Depression.................................................................... 157
Diabetes ....................................................................... 159
Flu and Pneumonia ........................................................ 162
Multiple Sclerosis ........................................................... 165
Muscular Dystrophy ....................................................... 167
Osteoporosis ................................................................. 168
Parkinson’s Disease ....................................................... 169
Spinal Cord Injury.......................................................... 170
Strokes ......................................................................... 172
Secondary Conditions ............................................................. 173

Bowel Dysfunction ......................................................... 174
Chronic Pain.................................................................. 176
Dental Disease .............................................................. 177
Fatigue ......................................................................... 178
Medication Side Effects .................................................. 179
Migraines ...................................................................... 180
Nutrition/Obesity ........................................................... 181
Pressure Sores/Ulcers .................................................... 182
Respiratory Problems ..................................................... 184
Skin Problems ............................................................... 185
Sleep Disorders ............................................................. 186
Spasms/Contractures ..................................................... 188
Stress and Anxiety ......................................................... 189
Urinary Tract Infections/Bladder Infections ...................... 191

NOTES	........................................................................... 193
FORMS Member Checklist

Self Directed Attendant Care Agreement

Rating Your Priorities

“What Do I Need?” Checklist

Training Needs Checklist For Members

Self Directed Attendant Care Application for Employment

Self Directed Attendant Care Skills Checklist

Self Directed Attendant Care Member/Attendant Care
Worker Work Agreement

Evaluation Form

Emergency Phone Numbers and Emergency Plan Self Directed Attendant Care Reporting Form Backup Attendant Care Worker List