Rachael Wardle Unit 21
P3 Explain ways in which health and care workers support the independence and wellbeing
of older people
M2 analyse dilemmas facing health and care workers when supporting the independence
and wellbeing of older people
P3
As people get older and move into the later stages of life they lose independence. This is
because as people get older they start to have more issues with mobility and cognitive
ability. This is why it is important for health and social care workers to encourage them to
stay both physically and mentally active, so that they can live and independently as possible
for as long as possible.
Domiciliary care workers provide care to individuals who still live in their own homes but who
need support with household tasks, personal care, or any other activity. These care workers
are an essential part of the service users daily routine, because of this it is important that
they help to maintain their independence and quality of life. For example if a service user
wished to make themselves a hot drink but had trouble keeping balance. It would be
important for the domiciliary worker to think of ways that the service user could be supported
whilst completing the task rather than refusing them their independence and doing it for
them. It is important for domiciliary care workers to try to encourage independence in the
service users when they are helping them do everyday tasks. For example when helping an
individual with showering they should coax the service user to do as much as they can
themselves. Doing this improves the motivation and self-esteem of the service user as they
may feel proud of themselves for being able to do small tasks for themselves without
support. The care worker could help the service user to improve social independence by
encouraging them to socialise. When dressing the service users, providing mobility tools or
dressing aids to encourage them to try to independently dress themselves to the best of their
ability, rather than doing it for them. The service user may feel empowered by this as they
will recognise that they still have the ability to control a part of their life independently. It is
important for a domiciliary care worker to encourage the service user to administer their own
medication. A domiciliary care worker cannot administer medication therefore it is important
that if the service user refuses to administer their medication that it is reported. If a service
user is able to move around without much support then the domiciliary care work should
encourage them to do easy exercises such as walking or do small household chores, if they
are able to, like washing dishes or vacuuming. It is important that the service user has the
ability to fulfill these tasks without endangering themselves, if there is a health and safety
risk there then the care worker should provide support or find a way to remove the risk.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/diary-of-a-home-care-worker-
overworked-underpaid-and-looking-after-your-loved-ones-9392366.html
https://www.socialcare.co.uk/care/blog/role-of-a-domiciliary-care-worker/
A nursing care assistant working in care homes help provide basic care to patients, much
like domiciliary care workers, however they are also responsible for the health care of the
service users. Nursing care assistants perform more advanced duties including monitoring
respiration, blood pressure, temperature, oxygen levels, and the heart rates of their patients.
They are also responsible for inserting catheters, treating bedsores, giving injections,
administering medications, and changing bandages. Depending on their experience level,
they are also sometimes responsible for developing care plans for patients. It is important for
these nurses to encourage the service users that they work with the be as independent as
P3 Explain ways in which health and care workers support the independence and wellbeing
of older people
M2 analyse dilemmas facing health and care workers when supporting the independence
and wellbeing of older people
P3
As people get older and move into the later stages of life they lose independence. This is
because as people get older they start to have more issues with mobility and cognitive
ability. This is why it is important for health and social care workers to encourage them to
stay both physically and mentally active, so that they can live and independently as possible
for as long as possible.
Domiciliary care workers provide care to individuals who still live in their own homes but who
need support with household tasks, personal care, or any other activity. These care workers
are an essential part of the service users daily routine, because of this it is important that
they help to maintain their independence and quality of life. For example if a service user
wished to make themselves a hot drink but had trouble keeping balance. It would be
important for the domiciliary worker to think of ways that the service user could be supported
whilst completing the task rather than refusing them their independence and doing it for
them. It is important for domiciliary care workers to try to encourage independence in the
service users when they are helping them do everyday tasks. For example when helping an
individual with showering they should coax the service user to do as much as they can
themselves. Doing this improves the motivation and self-esteem of the service user as they
may feel proud of themselves for being able to do small tasks for themselves without
support. The care worker could help the service user to improve social independence by
encouraging them to socialise. When dressing the service users, providing mobility tools or
dressing aids to encourage them to try to independently dress themselves to the best of their
ability, rather than doing it for them. The service user may feel empowered by this as they
will recognise that they still have the ability to control a part of their life independently. It is
important for a domiciliary care worker to encourage the service user to administer their own
medication. A domiciliary care worker cannot administer medication therefore it is important
that if the service user refuses to administer their medication that it is reported. If a service
user is able to move around without much support then the domiciliary care work should
encourage them to do easy exercises such as walking or do small household chores, if they
are able to, like washing dishes or vacuuming. It is important that the service user has the
ability to fulfill these tasks without endangering themselves, if there is a health and safety
risk there then the care worker should provide support or find a way to remove the risk.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/diary-of-a-home-care-worker-
overworked-underpaid-and-looking-after-your-loved-ones-9392366.html
https://www.socialcare.co.uk/care/blog/role-of-a-domiciliary-care-worker/
A nursing care assistant working in care homes help provide basic care to patients, much
like domiciliary care workers, however they are also responsible for the health care of the
service users. Nursing care assistants perform more advanced duties including monitoring
respiration, blood pressure, temperature, oxygen levels, and the heart rates of their patients.
They are also responsible for inserting catheters, treating bedsores, giving injections,
administering medications, and changing bandages. Depending on their experience level,
they are also sometimes responsible for developing care plans for patients. It is important for
these nurses to encourage the service users that they work with the be as independent as
