Great variability exists in the level of training personal support workers have when they enter the workforce. Because I am interested in the quality of care provided to persons with dementia living in a community setting, I would like to know what consequences there may be to regulating the curriculum of home health aides.
http://www.auci.gub.uy/auci/agenda/418-presentan-resultados-de-encuesta-nacional-de-cuidados-no-remunerados-en-salud.html
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This topic was well discussed and answered in at least one place (UK, Exeter Health Authority) some 30 years ago. In a series of evaluation and service development projects and reports, the Exeter Evaluation & Service Development Team, of which I was a member, made a convincing research-based argument that home care personnel (personal support workers) should receive basic training in recognising and dealing with both organic(eg dementia) and functional mental health issues. This was both as a quality of care issue but also in terms of acting as an early warning system. This training was indicated for all personal carers, even for younger people, and especially for non-governmental carers e.g. family members, friends or neighbours of those who required regular domestic and social assistence.
The work we did received considerable international interest from policy makers around the world. I think the more interesting question is 'why is this topic still a matter of debate?
I would take it even further to argue that it is not necessarily a matter of debate about whether such training should be indicated, but whether researchers have adequately addressed the very real consequences of making such training a mandatory (and perhaps regulated) component of the PSW/Healthcare Aide curriculum.
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