Elements and Performance Criteria
- Elements define the essential outcomes
- Assist with the preparation for a risk assessment
- Confirm assessment requirements with supervisor or relevant health professional
- Encourage participation of the older person and their carer in assessment and further actions
- Provide information to the older person and/or carer to clarify own role, responsibilities and accountability
- Provide information to the older person and/or carer explaining the assessment process, including explanation of results
- Communicate in a supportive and encouraging manner that is respectful of the older person and carer’s, rights, level of understanding and cultural background
- Seek older person’s permission and cooperation in the assessment process
- Contribute to the identification of risks
- Identify and review factors in the older person’s lifestyle that might affect their level of risk
- Use appropriate tools and methodologies, within scope of role, to determine risk based on physical indicators presented by the older person
- Assist with risk assessment ensuring to minimise unnecessary discomfort to the older person and maximises their participation
- Use the support of carers to identify risks
- Recognise the older person’s risk factors based on medical history, measurements and findings, in collaboration with supervisor and/or relevant health professional
- Identify the older person’s needs, issues and concerns outside scope of own practice and refer to appropriate supervisor and/or health professional
- Implement risk minimisation strategies
- Identify and explain options to minimise risk to the older person and/or carer
- Work with the older person and carer to identify risk minimisation strategies that are consistent with the older person’s safety needs, priorities and specific requirements
- Implement strategies in a safe and effective manner that minimises the older person’s discomfort
- Support carer in contributing to the implementation of strategies, where appropriate
- Monitor risk minimisation strategies
- Monitor the effects of the strategies on the older person
- Identify any indicators of increased risk
- Identify when strategies are not having the desired result and possible reasons for this
- Reassess and identify more appropriate strategies
- Work with the older person and carer to assess the outcomes of risk minimisation strategies
- Discuss feedback from the older person and carer with supervisor and/or or relevant health professional
- Complete, maintain and store all relevant documentation and reports according to organisation policy and protocols in a timely manner