Core Competencies
Essential knowledge and skills required for Care Core Plus certified ADS staff training programs
1. Safety & Emergency Response
Essential Knowledge:
- •CPR and First Aid certification and basic application
- •Emergency evacuation procedures for adult day settings
- •Fire safety and emergency preparedness
- •Universal precautions and basic infection control
- •When and how to call emergency services
Essential Skills:
- •Demonstrate CPR and First Aid techniques
- •Apply universal precautions in daily care
- •Recognize and respond to common medical emergencies (choking, falls, cardiac events)
- •Use basic safety equipment (fire extinguisher awareness, first aid supplies)
2. Participant Rights & Abuse Prevention
Essential Knowledge:
- •Participant Bill of Rights
- •Types of abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- •Mandatory reporting requirements and procedures
- •HIPAA basics and confidentiality requirements
- •Professional boundaries and appropriate relationships
- •Ethical responsibilities toward participants and families
Essential Skills:
- •Recognize signs of potential abuse or neglect
- •Follow reporting procedures for suspected abuse
- •Maintain participant confidentiality appropriately
- •Demonstrate respectful communication and boundaries
3. Personal Engagement
Essential Knowledge:
- •Person-centered care principles
- •Communication strategies for cognitive impairments
- •Cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness
- •De-escalation techniques for challenging behaviors
- •Family engagement basics
- •Strategies for positive caregiver partnerships
Essential Skills:
- •Use validation and active listening techniques
- •Apply basic de-escalation strategies
- •Support participant choice and preferences in daily activities
- •Plan and facilitate group and individual activities that promote engagement and well-being
- •Communicate empathetically with family caregivers while balancing participant confidentiality
4. Personal Care & Health Awareness
Essential Knowledge:
- •Safe assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)
- •Basic body mechanics and transfer techniques
- •Recognizing changes in participant condition
- •Medication safety awareness (observation and reporting)
- •Nutrition and hydration, including meal assistance basics, dysphagia, and specialized diets
Essential Skills:
- •Assist with personal care while maintaining dignity
- •Use proper body mechanics during transfers and assistance
- •Recognize and report significant changes in participant status
- •Safely assist with meals and monitor for choking/swallowing issues
- •Maintain infection control during personal care activities
- •Support participants' nutritional needs in line with individualized care plans
5. Dementia Care Basics
Essential Knowledge:
- •Overview of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
- •Communication techniques for cognitive impairment
- •Common behavioral expressions and responses
- •Safety considerations specific to dementia
- •Creating supportive environments
Essential Skills:
- •Use appropriate communication techniques with participants who have dementia
- •Apply redirection and validation strategies
- •Recognize and respond to common behavioral expressions
- •Implement basic safety measures for participants with cognitive impairment
6. Documentation & Professionalism
Essential Knowledge:
- •Basic documentation requirements and standards
- •Incident and accident reporting procedures
- •Professional conduct and ethics
- •Teamwork and communication with colleagues
- •Basic awareness of participant assessments and outcome tracking
Essential Skills:
- •Complete basic daily documentation accurately
- •Report incidents and accidents promptly and thoroughly
- •Communicate professionally with interdisciplinary team members
- •Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
Ready to Implement These Competencies?
Our certification process ensures your training programs meet these essential competencies while reducing administrative burden.