The Center for Caregiver Excellence

Growing Need for Home Caregivers

Like many states, Texas has a growing number of older adults. A large number of these individuals will choose to remain in their homes and will rely on family members and/or paid caregivers for help with daily activities.

• Because of this, the field of homecare and the home care industry in Texas continues to grow. Private homecare companies are expanding and government programs are searching for more ways to keep older adults in their homes through expanded home and community based programs. The growth of home care programs and services requires hundreds of additional home care workers of varying levels of knowledge and skills.

Teaching Philosophy: The Schmieding Method

• The Schmieding Certified Home Caregiver Training Program emphasizes holistic care using the “3 H” (heart, head, and hands) approach to caregiver education. We believe that well trained caregivers must possess a combination of skills, knowledge of safe practice standards, and sensitivity to the individual needs of the client and family.

Schmieding Method Home Caregiver Training

It is our goal to:• Increase the number of trained caregivers using the

Schmieding Method• Improve access to certified, competent and

compassionate caregivers for older adults• Establish measurable standards for in-home

caregivers• Become recognized as the experts in the area of

training home caregivers for older adults

Regulatory Requirements

• The State of Texas has not at this time established requirements for homemakers, companions, or personal care attendants. The Schmieding Certified Home Caregiver Training Program meets the Federal guidelines for home care workers.

Sites in Texas Using Schmieding Curriculum

• Coastal Bend ADRC and Del Mar Community College• AAA Central Texas and the Center for Caregiver

Excellence• West Central Texas Council of Governments• TexhomaCOG/AAA and Grayson College• Concho Valley ADRC• Lower Rio Grande AAA• Houston- Harris Co ADRC

The Schmieding Curriculum

• Family Caregiver: Physical Skills (10-12 hours)• Family Caregiver: Care of the Person with

Dementia (10-12 hours)• Elder Pal (25 hours)• Personal Care Assistant (25 hours)• Home Health Assistant (50 hours)• Alzheimer’s Disease (16 hours)• Family Care Advocate (40 hours)

Course Descriptions

Family Caregiver Workshop: Physical Skills

• This family caregiver workshop contains information on infection control, skin care, incontinence management, nutrition, body mechanics, mobility, caregiver stress, safety, and activities of daily living.

Family Caregiver Workshop: Care of the Person with Dementia

• This family caregiver workshop presents an overview of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, understanding behaviors, activities, communication techniques, nutrition and hydration, dealing with caregiver stress, and maintaining respect, dignity, and quality of life.

Schmieding Certified Elder Pal

Elder Pal (EP)

The Elder Pal provides companionship, safety, and support for individuals who need supervision or minimal assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, walking, light housekeeping, and running errands.

Certified Personal Care Assistant

Personal Care Assistant (PCA) (25 hours)

PCAs provide primarily “hands-on” personal care for individuals who need minimal to moderate assistance. In addition to EP skills, they can work with the individual to achieve the goal of maximum independence under family or professional supervision.

Alzheimer’s Disease and DementiaAlzheimers and other Dementia (AD)

• Meets mandated Arkansas Alzheimer’s Disease training required for all CNAs, Nursing Homes and Home Care Agency workers.

• Training is over Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, understanding behaviors, activities, communication techniques, nutrition and hydration, caregiver stress, end of life , and maintaining respect, dignity, and quality of life of the client.

Certified Home Health AssistantHome Health Assistant (HCA) (50 hours) HCAs provide “hands-on” personal care

for individuals who need moderate to maximum assistance. In addition to EP and PCA skills, they can perform uncomplicated procedures in the home setting. Also these graduates can perform services in long-term care facilities, home health agencies, or in other settings, under the supervision of a licensed nurse. A home Health Assistant is not a Certified Nurse Aide.

Certified Family Care Advocate• Family Care Advocate training

equips caregivers with advanced communication skills to provide better home-centered care.

• The course teaches the skills necessary to meet the increasingly complex needs of older adults, including those with chronic illnesses.

• The trained advocate is instrumental to the care recipient and family in helping to prevent costly hospital admissions as well as unnecessary nursing home stays.

Microfinancing Loans Available

• Under a grant from CMMI, low interest micro lending loans are available to Texas sites to cover the tuition and books of the certified courses to the individual attending class.

- helps unemployed workforce (with no credit history ) to get professional training enabling them to work in the home care. - increases number of available trained, competent and capable caregivers for our elder and disabled community

Benefits of the Schmieding Method Home Caregiver Program

Certification• courses are taught by qualified

nursing educators and other health care professionals.

• Each graduate receives a Schmieding Certificate for each course that is successfully completed.

• Many individuals and agencies that employ personal caregivers actively recruit “Schmieding Certified” caregivers because Schmieding graduates have a national reputation for excellence.

• The training Certificate will also come with the specific Skills that the graduate has shown competency with during the competency exam.

• This will be an aid to assist homecare agencies to know the graduates capabilities.

• It is also a aid to private individuals wishing to hire competent and capable care-givers to care for them in their home

Any Questions

For more informationcontact: Central Texas Aging and

Disability Resource Center

Thom Wilson, LMSW 254-770-2359