Keywords

adult care; disabilities; aging; leadership; human-centered design

Abstract

As the population of individuals with disabilities is rapidly aging, organizations face new challenges inperson-centered care, especially in residential facilities where their caregivers are not family members butindividuals with diverse cultural backgrounds and limited understanding of American culture. There aremany organizations which offer a range of services to individuals with disabilities, including communitybasedresidential settings where caregivers work with adults to increase independence in daily living skilldevelopment, behavior management, personal care, medication administration, and other services andactivities. Complications arise when caregivers lack the knowledge, training, cultural understanding, andcommunication skills necessary to provide quality care. Much more skill acquisition is needed than theminimal State-required 40-hour orientation and training. This article outlines the leadership needs forspecific studies that use human-centered designs to develop new trainings and work processes that aretailor-made to suit needs of caregivers and individuals for whom they care. Additionally, it discusses theneed for studies that could lead to practice and policy changes needed based upon results of research todetermine the levels of knowledge diverse caregivers, serving adults with disabilities, have regardingactivities of daily living and the aging process.

Date Created

January 2018

https://works.bepress.com/daniel-eadens/5/download/

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