COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Apply Responsible Work Practices in Aged Care Settings course. This program has been designed to build your knowledge, practical skills, and professional standards to provide safe, respectful, and person-centred support to older people in a variety of care settings.

Ageing support practice involves more than completing tasks; it is about understanding the needs, preferences, and rights of older people and delivering support in a way that promotes dignity, autonomy, and quality of life. This course begins by introducing the core concepts of ageing support, the roles and responsibilities of ageing support workers, and the principles of person-centred practice. It also explores the importance of maintaining professional boundaries, accountability, and ethical conduct when working in people’s homes, residential facilities, and community environments.

Personal care is a central component of ageing support and must always be delivered with respect, privacy, and sensitivity. This section explores practical approaches to assisting with bathing, showering, dressing, undressing, grooming, oral hygiene, toileting, and continence care. It emphasises how to provide these supports in a way that maintains dignity, supports independence where possible, and follows agreed care plans, infection control principles, and safeguarding obligations.

Mobility and transfer tasks play a key role in maintaining comfort, safety, and independence for older people. This section examines how to assist with walking and ambulation, support transfers between bed, chair, and wheelchair, and reposition clients to promote comfort and prevent pressure injuries. It also covers the correct use of mobility aids such as walkers and wheelchairs, and safe operation of hoists and transfer equipment, highlighting the importance of manual handling principles and risk management for both clients and workers.

Medication support tasks must be carried out with great care and within clearly defined role boundaries. This section outlines how workers may prompt clients to take medication, assist with self-administration, or administer medicines when authorised and trained to do so. It also examines the importance of accurate recording of medication support provided, following organisational procedures and legal requirements, and recognising when to escalate concerns about medication side effects, errors, or refusals.

Supporting nutrition and hydration is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of older people. This section focuses on preparing meals and snacks in line with individual preferences and dietary requirements, assisting with feeding where needed, and promoting adequate food and fluid intake. It also examines how to monitor consumption, support special diets, and recognise signs of dehydration, poor appetite, or swallowing difficulties that require escalation.

Household and environmental tasks contribute to safety, comfort, and quality of life. This section explores how ageing support workers clean and tidy living areas, manage laundry and linen changes, and make beds in line with comfort and hygiene standards. It also addresses the importance of maintaining a safe, clutter-free environment, identifying hazards, and taking appropriate action to reduce risks such as falls, infection, and injury.

Health monitoring is an important responsibility in ageing support roles. This section examines how to observe and recognise changes in physical condition, emotional state, or behaviour, and how to check vital signs where this forms part of the role and competence of the worker. It also highlights the importance of timely reporting of health concerns to nursing or supervisory staff, and the role of accurate observation in early intervention and prevention of deterioration.

Exercise and rehabilitation activities can support mobility, strength, and functional independence. This section explores how ageing support workers assist with prescribed exercises and mobility routines under the guidance of health professionals, encourage participation in rehabilitation activities, and ensure that exercises are performed safely and within individual limits. It emphasises following care plans and therapy instructions accurately to support progress and reduce the risk of injury.

Emotional and social support are key components of holistic ageing care. This section focuses on the role of companionship, meaningful conversation, reassurance, and emotional support in enhancing wellbeing and reducing loneliness or isolation. It explores how workers can build rapport while maintaining professional boundaries, respond sensitively to emotional distress, and support older people to feel valued, heard, and connected.

Promoting independence is central to professional ageing support practice. This section examines how to encourage older people to perform daily tasks to the extent that they are able, support decision-making in everyday activities, and promote participation in self-care. It highlights the balance between providing necessary assistance and avoiding over-helping, so that each person’s skills, confidence, and autonomy are supported for as long as possible.

Transport and community access tasks enable older people to remain engaged with their community and maintain important routines. This section explores how workers assist with transport to appointments, support shopping and errands, and accompany clients to social or community activities. It also considers safety, planning, and communication requirements when supporting clients outside the home or facility.

Recreational activities are vital for enjoyment, mental stimulation, and social connection. This section examines how ageing support workers can facilitate participation in hobbies, leisure programs, and group or individual activities that reflect each person’s interests and abilities. It highlights the importance of encouraging engagement, adapting activities where needed, and recognising the value of recreation in maintaining quality of life.

Palliative and end-of-life care require sensitivity, compassion, and adherence to care plans. This section explores how workers support comfort measures, assist with personal care during palliative phases, and provide emotional support to both clients and their families. It addresses the importance of dignity, respect, and clear communication at end of life, as well as recognition of the emotional impact this work can have on staff.

Documentation underpins safe, consistent, and accountable ageing support practice. This section examines how to record daily care activities, document meals, medications, and assistance provided, and record observations, incidents, and changes in condition. It emphasises the importance of accurate, timely, and objective progress notes that support communication within the care team, inform clinical decision-making, and meet organisational and regulatory requirements.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the practical skills, professional standards, and person-centred approaches required to deliver safe, respectful, and effective ageing support, contributing positively to the health, wellbeing, and quality of life of older people in your care.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Ageing Support Practice

• Understanding ageing support
• Roles and responsibilities of ageing support workers
• Principles of person-centred practice
• Maintaining professional boundaries and accountability

2. Personal Care Tasks

·       Assisting with bathing and showering

·       Assisting with dressing and undressing

·       Supporting grooming and oral hygiene

·       Assisting with toileting

·       Supporting continence care

3. Mobility and Transfer Tasks

·       Assisting with walking and ambulation

·       Supporting transfers between bed, chair, and wheelchair

·       Repositioning clients for comfort and pressure care

·       Using mobility aids such as walkers and wheelchairs

·       Operating hoists and transfer equipment

4. Medication Support Tasks

·       Prompting clients to take medication

·       Assisting with self-administration of medication

·       Administering medication where authorised

·       Recording medication support provided

5. Nutrition and Hydration Tasks

·       Preparing meals and snacks

·       Assisting with feeding

·       Supporting special dietary requirements

·       Encouraging adequate fluid intake

·       Monitoring food and fluid consumption

6. Household and Environmental Tasks

·       Cleaning and tidying living areas

·       Laundry and linen changes

·       Bed making

·       Maintaining a safe and clutter-free environment

7. Health Monitoring Tasks

·       Observing physical condition changes

·       Observing emotional or behavioural changes

·       Checking vital signs where required

·       Reporting health changes to nursing or supervisory staff

8. Exercise and Rehabilitation Tasks

·       Assisting with prescribed exercises

·       Supporting mobility and strength routines

·       Encouraging participation in rehabilitation activities

9. Emotional and Social Support Tasks

·       Providing companionship

·       Engaging in conversation

·       Offering reassurance and emotional support

·       Reducing loneliness and social isolation

10. Independence Support Tasks

·       Encouraging clients to perform daily tasks

·       Supporting decision-making in daily activities

·       Promoting participation in self-care tasks

11. Transport and Community Access Tasks

·       Assisting with transport to appointments

·       Supporting shopping and errands

·       Accompanying clients to social or community activities

12. Recreational Activity Tasks

·       Supporting participation in hobbies

·       Facilitating leisure and social activities

·       Encouraging engagement in recreational programs

13. Palliative and End-of-Life Care Tasks

·       Supporting comfort measures

·       Assisting with personal care during palliative care

·       Providing emotional support to clients and families

14. Documentation Tasks

·       Recording daily care activities

·       Documenting meals, medications, and assistance provided

·       Recording observations and incidents

·       Updating progress notes

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.