General Directions:

Household Management

Module 6 – Household
Management, Nutrition and
Hydration Assignment – Part
I

A. Individual Take Home Assignment.

B. A minimum mark 70% must be achieved to pass.
C. The assignment will count for 20% of your final mark in Module 6.

Name: ___Amardeep Singh__________

Due Date: ____25-07-

2024__________________________________________
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Household Management

In the following situations, describe the most appropriate actions or responses to

be taken by the Personal Support Worker and explain why this is correct. Your
answer should reflect knowledge of effective communication skills, the extent
and limitations of your role, and an understanding of the client’s total needs. (4
marks each)

1. You are assigned to help Mrs. Jones with her laundry and vacuuming. When
you try to do Mrs. Jones’ laundry, she tells you you’ve used too much soap,
even though you have used the correct amount according to the package. She
also insists you use cold water, even though the clothes can be washed in
warm and her detergent is not recommended for use in cold water. When you
bring the clothes up from the dryer, she complains that they are not “really
clean.”

Actions/Response:

● Explain the Reasoning

Action: Gently explain why you used a certain amount of soap and why warm
water is recommended.

Response: "The detergent instructions recommend this amount of soap for a full
load to ensure thorough cleaning. Warm water helps the detergent dissolve and
clean more effectively."

● Collaborate and Find a Compromise

Action: Offer to find a middle ground that respects her preferences while
ensuring effective cleaning.

Response: "How about we try using a bit less soap with warm water this time and
see how it works? If the clothes still don't seem clean enough, we can make
adjustments next time."

● Review and Adjust

Action: After bringing the clothes up from the dryer, review the results with Mrs.
Jones.

Response: "Let's inspect the clothes together. If they aren't as clean as you'd like,
we can rewash any items that need it. Your satisfaction is very important to me."

Reasons:

Explain the Reasoning:

● Reason: Providing a clear explanation helps Mrs. Jones understand why certain
procedures are followed, enhancing transparency. This can alleviate any
misunderstandings or misconceptions she may have. It also ensures she knows
that her care is based on best practices, even when it deviates from her usual
methods.

Collaborate and Find a Compromise:

● Reason: Collaboration fosters a sense of partnership in care, which is empowering

for clients. By finding a middle ground, the PSW respects Mrs. Jones’ autonomy
and preferences while still adhering to proper procedures. This approach balances
the PSW’s professional knowledge with the client’s individual wishes, which is a
cornerstone of client-centered care.

Review and Adjust:

● Reason: Reviewing the results together ensures that Mrs. Jones has an active role
in evaluating her care. This step demonstrates that her feedback is important and
that adjustments will be made based on her satisfaction. It also allows the PSW to
address any issues immediately, ensuring the client's needs are fully met.

2. You are assigned to help Mrs. Smith with meals and housekeeping. Mrs.
Smith has a large collection of teacups, figurines, and glass lamps. She wants
you to dust each item separately every time you visit. This leaves no time for
you to do other tasks you are assigned.

Actions/Response:

● Acknowledge Concerns and Preferences

 Action: Acknowledge Mrs. Smith's concern about her collection.

Response: "I understand that your collection is very special to you, and I
want to ensure it's properly cared for."

● Explain Time Constraints

Action: Explain the time limitations and the need to complete other
tasks.

Response: "During our visits, we have a limited amount of time, and I

also need to make sure that meals and other housekeeping tasks are
completed."

● Find a Compromise

Action: Offer a compromise to balance her preferences with the time

available.

Response: "How about we dust a few items from your collection each
time I visit, rotating through them so everything gets attention over
time? This way, I can still complete the other necessary tasks."

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Reasons:

● Acknowledge Concerns and Preferences

Reason: Acknowledging Mrs. Smith's concerns demonstrates empathy

and respect for her values and priorities. This helps build trust and
rapport, making her feel understood and valued. Effective
communication is essential in creating a positive relationship between
the PSW and the client, ensuring that the client feels heard and
respected.

● Explain Time Constraints

Reason: Explaining the time constraints helps Mrs. Smith understand the
practical limitations of the PSW's role. This transparency is crucial for
setting realistic expectations and ensuring that all necessary tasks are
completed within the allotted time. It also helps to manage the client's
expectations and highlights the PSW's responsibility to balance multiple
tasks efficiently.

● Find a Compromise

Reason: Finding a compromise respects Mrs. Smith's wishes while also

addressing the practical need to complete all assigned tasks. This
approach demonstrates flexibility and a willingness to work together to
find a solution that meets both the client's desires and the PSW's
responsibilities. By rotating the items dusted, the PSW ensures that the
collection receives regular attention without compromising the quality
of other essential services. This collaborative problem-solving approach
empowers the client and enhances their satisfaction with the care
received.

3. You are assigned to Mrs. Goretz. She finds it difficult to get around, and
spends most of her time in the living room looking out a small window at the
birds that happen by. She gets great enjoyment from this. In fact, it’s her
only activity.

Recent rain has left this window dirty and hard to see through. Your agency’s
policy says that homemakers don’t generally clean windows, but your
supervisor says the decision is up to you.

Actions/Response:
 ● Acknowledge Mrs. Goretz's Enjoyment

Action: Recognize and validate the importance of the window and the activity of
bird watching to Mrs. Goretz.

Response: "I can see that you really enjoy watching the birds through this
window. It must be frustrating for you now that it's dirty and hard to see
through."

● Assess the Situation

Action: Evaluate the condition of the window and the time and effort required to
clean it.

Response: "Let me check the window to see how dirty it is and figure out what it
would take to clean it."

● Explain Agency Policy and Flexibility

Action: Explain the agency's general policy on window cleaning but also mention
the flexibility given by the supervisor.

Response: "Typically, our policy doesn’t include window cleaning, but my

supervisor has given me the flexibility to decide in this case."

Reasons:

● Acknowledge Mrs. Goretz's Enjoyment

Reason: Acknowledging Mrs. Goretz's enjoyment demonstrates empathy

and validates her feelings. This helps build trust and shows that her well-
being is a priority. By recognizing the importance of the activity to her,
 you are respecting her personal interests and needs, which contributes
to a positive and supportive relationship.

● Assess the Situation

Reason: Assessing the situation provides a clear understanding of the

extent of the problem and the resources needed to address it. This
practical step ensures that you make an informed decision about
whether cleaning the window is feasible and appropriate within the time
constraints of your visit.

● Explain Agency Policy and Flexibility

Reason: Clearly explaining the agency's policy helps set realistic

expectations and provides context for the decision-making process.
Mentioning the supervisor's flexibility shows that you are working within
the guidelines but are also willing to adapt to meet Mrs. Goretz's specific
needs. This approach balances adherence to policy with responsiveness
to individual circumstances, ensuring transparency and maintaining
professionalism.

4. You a reassigned to visit Mrs. Rice for two hours each morning. She requires
help with personal care, housekeeping, and meals. Your visits with her are
busy: there’s a lot to do. You know Mrs. Rice loves corn bread. She’s
generally fussy about food, but really enjoys this dish, and eats better when
you make it. The problem is that when you make corn bread, you don’t get
all the other tasks done.

Actions/Response:

● Acknowledge Mrs. Rice’s Preferences

Action: Recognize Mrs. Rice’s love for corn bread and its impact on her eating habits.
Response: "I know how much you enjoy corn bread and how it helps you eat better."

● Explain Time Constraints

Action: Explain the time constraints and the need to complete all assigned tasks.

Response: "With the two hours we have each morning, I need to make sure that we get all
the personal care, housekeeping, and meal preparations done."

● Find a Compromise

Action: Offer a compromise to balance making corn bread with completing other tasks.

Response: "How about we plan to make corn bread once or twice a week and on the
other days, I can focus on preparing different meals and making sure all other tasks are
completed?"

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Reasons:

● Acknowledge Mrs. Rice’s Preferences

Reason: Acknowledging Mrs. Rice’s preferences shows that you understand and value
what she enjoys, which can enhance her overall satisfaction and well-being. Recognizing
the positive impact of corn bread on her appetite also highlights your attention to her
needs and helps build a positive rapport.

● Explain Time Constraints

Reason: Clearly explaining the time constraints helps manage expectations and informs
Mrs. Rice about the limitations you face. This transparency is important for setting realistic
goals and ensuring that all essential tasks are completed within the available time.

● Find a Compromise

Reason: Offering a compromise allows you to address Mrs. Rice’s preferences while
ensuring that all necessary tasks are completed. This approach shows flexibility and
responsiveness, balancing her desires with practical constraints, and helps to maintain her
satisfaction and overall care quality.

5. You are assigned to Mrs. Prunt, who is eating poorly. One of your tasks is to
 encourage her to eat. You have been to see Mrs. Prunt three times this week.
She is happy with the things you do for her, but will not allow you to make a
meal. “I’m fine,” she says, “I don’t need much to eat.” Yesterday, you tried
making a more balanced lunch, but Mrs. Prunt declined to eat it, saying she’d
eat it later. Today when you came in you found the meal in the garbage. It did
not look like much, if any of the meal was eaten.

Actions/Response:

● Acknowledge Mrs. Prunt’s Preferences

Action: Recognize and validate Mrs. Prunt’s feelings about her eating habits.
Response: "I understand that you feel you’re fine and don’t need much to eat."

● Express Concern and Offer Support

Action: Gently express concern about her eating habits and offer to help in a non-intrusive
way.
Response: "I noticed that the meal wasn’t eaten and wanted to check in to make sure
everything is okay. Is there something specific you’d prefer to eat or any way I can assist
with your meals?"

● Suggest Small Changes

Action: Suggest small, gradual changes to her eating habits that might be more
acceptable.
Response: "Would it be helpful if we tried smaller, more frequent meals or snacks that
might be easier for you to manage? I can prepare a few different options for you to
choose from."

Reasons:

● Acknowledge Mrs. Prunt’s Preferences

Reason: Acknowledging Mrs. Prunt’s perspective helps build trust and shows that you
respect her feelings and autonomy. This step is crucial in creating an open and supportive
dialogue.

● Express Concern and Offer Support

Reason: Expressing concern shows that you care about her well-being without being
pushy. Offering support in a non-intrusive way encourages her to communicate her
preferences or needs, which can help you tailor your approach to better suit her.

● Suggest Small Changes

Reason: Suggesting small changes can make the idea of eating more manageable and less
overwhelming for Mrs. Prunt. Offering choices can empower her to take control over her
eating habits while still receiving the necessary support.

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