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Caring for Persons with Spinal Cord InjuriesBackPatience and understanding important personality traits for Community Health Care workers Victoria, BC - April 26, 2010 - Community health care workers may have the opportunity to care for persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI), either in home support settings or at residential facilities. Spinal Cord InjuriesPermanent spinal cord injuries can result from injury to the spinal cord either through motor vehicle accidents, sport injuries or other physical traumas; they may also be caused by illness in the spinal cord region. There are generally three categories of SCI: quadriplegia (the loss of mobility and feeling in both legs and both arms), triplegia (affecting one arm and both legs), and paraplegia (affecting both legs). The higher up the spinal cord that the injury occurs, the more severe the level of harm is and thus the higher level of care required. SCI Patient Care Community health care workers assist clients with spinal cord injuries in various ways. They may help patients get into and out of bed, assist with toileting functions, provide bed baths, assist with getting dressed, prepare meals, exercise limbs, and do household chores. Skin care is often a critical component of care as clients with low mobility can easily develop pressure sores.
It is important for the health care worker to enter a care position with a level of understanding and patience. Spinal cord injury patients have experienced severe trauma, both physical and mental; it may be extremely frustrating for the client to no longer have full independence and control over their mobility and personal care needs. As a result, it is important for the community health care worker to be equipped with coping skills to deal with stress that they too may feel, while respecting the client if they are having a difficult emotional time. Caregivers must equally care for the patient and themselves. This balance will allow care workers to provide a higher level of assistance to SCI clients, not only meeting personal care needs but also providing a safer and positive environment for the patient. Interested in a career as a Community Health Care worker? Fill out the form to your left for more information on the diploma program at UCW Academy of Health! BackSocial Services Diplomas - More News
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