The importance of staff training cannot be over emphasized because it determines the quality of care that patients will receive. Although government regulations and policies in the U.K. on caregiver training are still being fine-tuned, all caregivers need to pass through mandatory training before they start taking care of the elderly. This will enable them to learn all the basics on how to give top quality care and attention to the elderly either in their private residence or in specialised nursing homes. Here is a brief discussion of the vital reasons for staff training. 1. To Understand the Peculiar Condition of Elderly Patients The elderly usually have certain conditions and ailments that need to be properly appreciated by their caregivers. Many pensioners and members of the older generation in the U.K. suffer from degenerative diseases such as dementia, alzheimer, loss of memory, arthritis, weak limbs and other medical conditions. Hence, caregivers must be properly trained to understand these conditions and how it affects the behaviour, and response of the patient to various forms of treatment and care. 2. To Develop the Compassion and Character Required to Care for Elderly People One of the most vital aspects of caring for the elderly is to empathise with them and show them love, concern and compassion. The need to imbibe these traits underscores the importance of staff training in nursing care homes. All staff in general and the caregivers in particular must be able to restrain themselves from overreacting to any unpleasant behaviour by an elderly person. They should also be conscious of how to manage their own personal challenges so that they don't transfer any inner hurt or aggression to the people they are taking care of. 3. To Be Able to Administer Medication Effectively Caregivers must be trained to successfully give their patients their medication at the right time and in the prescribed quantity. Not all elderly patients enjoy taking medication. So a caregiver must know how to encourage them to take all their prescription drugs without much resistance. By helping the patient to get into the right mood, administration of the medication will be much easier and faster. Administration of medication covers both prescription drugs and other medical requirements such as physiotherapy and various forms of exercise. 4. To Prevent Unnecessary Abuse of the Elderly In recent times, in the U.K., there have been reports of the abuse of the elderly in certain care homes. Such homes have already been shut down by government. A good example of this is the Winterbourne View home located in Bristol which was shut down after investigations revealed that disabled adults were frequently being abused. In some other cases, government officials discovered that agencies providing various kinds of home-help services could not satisfy the minimum requirement for quality and safety. Various legislations are being proposed to raise the minimum national standards for the training of all caregivers. Conclusion This brief discussion has highlighted the importance of staff training for all caregivers working in nursing care homes holt in the U.K. A well trained caregiver will be equipped to deliver consistent high quality service that will improve the condition of the elderly people receiving care and prolong their life.
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