CDS-E-S: Personal Care

Lesson Descriptions and Learning Objectives

CDS-E-S: Personal Care

This is a list of lessons found in this course with their description and learning objectives:

Lesson 1: CDS-E-S: Understanding Personal and Self-Care

Lesson Description:

Personal care is an important part of your role as a DSP. In this lesson you will learn what personal care is and why it is necessary. You will explore how to provide personal care assistance in a caring and respectful manner. The lesson will present the balance between health and safety and individual choice. Your ethical and legal responsibilities as a direct support professional will also be discussed.

Learning Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  1. Describe personal care and self-care activities.
  2. Provide three reasons why grooming and hygiene activities are important.
  3. Describe methods of approaching conflicts between hygiene choices and health and safety.
  4. Identify your role and responsibilities in assisting with personal care activities.
  5. Describe methods for overcoming challenges when assisting with personal care.

Lesson 2: CDS-E-S: Providing Individualized Personal Care Support

Lesson Description:

This lesson will help you to understand what "individualized" support means and how to provide it. It will explore how personal differences, such as disability, age, culture, and gender, may affect grooming and hygiene. Strategies will be provided to make sure that support is based on the needs and preferences of the person supported. You will be asked to reflect upon your attitudes and beliefs about grooming and hygiene. You will learn how these beliefs and attitudes may influence how you assist others with grooming and hygiene. How to prioritize activities when assisting with grooming and hygiene will also be discussed.

Learning Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  1. Describe individual attributes that may affect grooming and hygiene routines.
  2. Use strategies to gather information about preferred routines and procedures regarding personal care.
  3. Provide support based on the values and preferences of the person receiving supports and avoid personal biases.
  4. Assist people in expressing their style through grooming habits.
  5. Effectively balance the time spent on personal care with other job expectations.

Lesson 3: CDS-E-S: The Basics of Hygiene

Lesson Description:

This lesson reviews how to complete a variety of hygiene activities. The lesson includes instructions for completing bathing routines, personal cleanliness, skincare, nail care, hair care, oral care, and using the toilet. You will review potential health concerns and risks related to these areas. You will be presented with methods to minimize these risks.

Learning Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  1. Complete hygiene activities related to bathing, showering, and washing of hair.
  2. Assist people with personal cleanliness related to care of genitals and menstrual care.
  3. Assist people with activities related to using the toilet or disposable briefs.
  4. Complete activities related to care of fingernails and toenails

Lesson 4: CDS-E-S: The Basics of Grooming and Dressing

Lesson Description:

This lesson reviews how to complete a variety of grooming activities. The lesson includes instructions for assisting a person in dressing, complete hair care, nail care, shaving, and other grooming activities. You will review how to support a person with grooming in a way that reflects personal preferences.

Learning Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  1. Assist a person with grooming and dressing in a way that projects the image and gender identity that they choose.
  2. Assist with dressing, including physical assistance and selection of clothing.
  3. Complete activities of grooming including hairstyling, managing body hair, wearing makeup & jewelry, and other grooming activities

Lesson 5: CDS-E-S: Oral Care

Lesson Description:

Good oral health is critical to overall health. This lesson teaches methods for assisting people in caring for their teeth and gums. This lesson covers denture care and reviews health concerns related to poor oral hygiene. It includes strategies for achieving the best possible oral health.

Learning Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  1. Use effective infection control procedures during oral care.
  2. Identify signs of good oral health and health issues related to poor oral health.
  3. Identify obstacles to good oral health and use strategies to address them.
  4. Support people in four key elements recommended for maintaining oral health.
  5. Assist people with brushing, flossing, care of dentures, and or the care of gums.
  6. Assist people to find and use dental services.