Personal Care Home

Medication Safety covers a wide array of constructs that begin with correct prescribing by the physician and correct dispensing by the pharmacy, culminating with the patient receiving the right dose of the right medication at the right time via the right route of administration.  Age-related changes in the body lead to changes in medication effects in older adults.  In order to best protect their residents and avoid being cited for violations by DHS, PCH administrators and LTC caregivers must be up to date on potential side effects, drug interactions, duplications of therapy and proper administration of medications to their residents, especially senior citizens, who are most vulnerable to medication misadventures. Course Code: DHS159

Please register for only one session.

• Fri., March 20, 9am-Noon
• Fri., April 10, 9am-Noon
• Mon., April 27, 9am-Noon

This course will outline common health and safety considerations in personal care homes. Students will learn how dementia impacts health and safety, and how to manage common physical and behavioral complications associated with dementia in a way that is respectful of and responsive to the preferences and needs of residents.  Basic skills will include strategies for managing care for people with dementia in the personal care home setting. Course Code: DHS210

Please register for only one session.

• Tues., April 7, 1pm-4pm
• Tues., April 21, 9am-Noon
• Tues., May 12, 9am-Noon

This course will be offered to personal care home staff as an update and review of the care of residents with diabetes, as required by 2600.190b., and provided by a Certified Diabetic Educator. It will include diabetes updates; care and treatment options for residents with diabetes; instruction on the proper technique for administering insulin and oral medications; and instruction for recognizing signs and symptoms, and corrective actions for, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Prior experience administering oral medications and insulin in a personal care home setting within the last year is required. This a FREE statewide training funded by Adult Residential Licensing, Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services for Personal Care Home staff and administrators and staff of licensed agencies. GLP1 & GIP review. Prerequisites needed for this class. Course Code: DIABS106. To request a training class, please email healthcare@northampton.edu.

This course will provide basic information to guide participants as they develop and implement effective and functional emergency response and recovery activities as it relates to personal care homes.  Discussion of required onsite compliance plans and expectations will provide the participants with awareness of various roles and responsibilities that will facilitate preparation and implementation of functional site emergency response actions and recovery activities. Part one of two will focus on evacuations, active threats and unusual incidents that require an emergency response. Discussion will include self-sustaining actions along with integration functions to appropriately interact with external emergency responders.   Participants will be made aware of their individual performance expectations that will be critical to achieve desired outcomes. Course Code: DHS214

Please register for only one session.

• Thur., April 2, 9am-Noon
• Thur., May 7, 9am-Noon
• Thur., May 21, 9am-Noon

This course will provide basic information to guide participants as they develop and implement effective functional emergency plans to include recovery activities as it relates to personal care homes.  Interactive discussion of emergency management procedures will include risk management actions to mitigate destructive or damaging forces that endanger an organization's ability to function.  This part two will focus on assessment techniques needed to determine the severity of an incident and will offer awareness of recovery options. Interactive discussions include methodologies that will provide for the safety of personnel and residents.  Though a comprehensive approach of exposure and risk identification along with appropriate remediation actions participants will be made aware of their performance expectations that will be critical to achieve normal business operations. Course Code: DHS215

Please register for only one session.

• Thur., April 2, 1pm-4pm
• Thur., May 7, 1pm-4pm
• Thur., May 21, 1pm-4pm

This training prepares Personal Care Home Administrators to identify, evaluate, and strengthen customer service practices within their residential care settings. Through lecture, discussion, and interactive activities, participants will explore effective communication methods, family engagement strategies, problem resolution skills, and leadership techniques that support a culture of person-centered care and excellence in service delivery. Course Code: DHS193

Please register for only one session.

• Wed., April 29, 9am-Noon
• Wed., May 13, 1pm-4pm
• Wed., May 27, 9am-Noon

Students will learn the fundamentals of infection control, with a focus on the personal care facility resident. Content includes transmission of infections and blood borne pathogens, role of immunizations, and practices to keep residents and staff safe. Course Code: DHS130

Please register for only one session.

• Tues., April 7, 9am-Noon
• Tues., May 12, 1pm-4pm

This course is designed to inform the participants how to recognize potentially aggressive or violent situations as it relates to the personal care home environment. Methods to verbally mediate or diffuse aggressive behaviors will be discussed and explored.  Emphasis will be focused on avoidance of physical restraint or touching of individuals involved.   Employee safety will be discussed within a challenging environment of regulatory responsibilities that can include self-defense options and interaction with local law enforcement, PA Department of Human Services, and OSHA. Recognizing that each facility and circumstances have unique challenges, this course will provide a variety of methods to consider and employ in order to achieve the desired outcome for all stakeholders. Course Code: DHS179

Please register for only one session.

• Thur., March 19, 1pm-4pm
• Thur., April 16, 1pm-4pm

This course provides education for the personal care home administrator on identifying areas for improvement, being informed of regulatory requirements that impact quality of care, assessing outcomes, and writing policy procedures that can be monitored and measured for accurate implementation. Course Code: DHS206

Please register for only one session.

• Wed., April 29, 1pm-4pm
• Wed., May 13, 9am-Noon
• Wed., May 27, 1pm-4pm