Observe and Respond to Changes
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Author: L Kelly
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Level: 3
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Study time: 1 hour and 5 mins
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Lesson series
Observing and responding to changes in a person’s health or functional status is a critical responsibility for support workers. This course provides essential skills to identify changes, assess their impact, and follow proper reporting procedures. You’ll learn how to distinguish between normal variations and significant changes, understand different types of changes—including physical, cognitive, emotional, and environmental—and ensure that care plans reflect the person's evolving needs. By accurately documenting observations and escalating concerns appropriately, you play a key role in maintaining the wellbeing and safety of those in your care.
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Video time: 1 hour and 5 mins
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Quiz: 1
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Assessment: 1
Lesson series
Why this course is important?
Support workers are often the first to notice subtle or significant changes in a person's condition. Recognising and responding to these changes early can prevent health deterioration, ensure appropriate interventions, and improve quality of life. Whether it’s identifying physical declines, cognitive impairments, emotional distress, or environmental concerns, your observations contribute to better care planning and prompt medical attention when needed. This training equips you with the skills to differentiate between normal ageing, acute medical issues, and long-term health conditions, ensuring you know what to look for, how to report effectively, and when to take action. By following best practices in monitoring, recording, and responding to changes, you become an essential link in safeguarding the health and dignity of those you support.
Meet the instructor
Leigh Kelly
Leigh Kelly is a New Zealand Registered Nurse who has been working with the elderly and disabled since 1974. Her ADN focused on young physically disabled.
She has been a Charge Nurse at Kenepuru and Greenlane Hospitals Continuing Care Wards, owned her own dementia specific rest home and worked and managed rest homes.
She also has vast experience as a RN in continuing care facilities.
She has been a Charge Nurse at Kenepuru and Greenlane Hospitals Continuing Care Wards, owned her own dementia specific rest home and worked and managed rest homes.
She also has vast experience as a RN in continuing care facilities.
Patrick Jones - Course author
