Direct Support Professionals work with individuals with mental or developmental disabilities by creating behavior plans, teaching self-care skills, cooking meals and doing laundry. Additional duties may include: 

• Assisting clients with daily personal tasks, including bathing and dressing
• Completing housekeeping tasks such as vacuuming, washing dishes and tidying
• Helping plan client appointments and organize a schedule
• Organizing with transportation arrangements to appointments
• Shopping for groceries and preparing meals that meet specific client dietary needs
• Encouraging client engagement in social networks and communities

Certified Nursing Assistants are responsible for many patient care tasks to ensure that each patient receives the comprehensive and personalized care they need. They often have the following responsibilities:

• Grooming and bathing patients with low mobility
• Preparing each patient room with necessary items like blankets, pillows, medical equipment and bathroom needs
• Helping patients eat and take medications
• Making sure they have regular meals and proper medication dosages
• Monitoring vitals and patient behavior and reporting them to the nursing and medical staff
• Assisting patients with mobility needs, transferring them from wheelchair to bed
• Turning or adjusting patients in bed to prevent bedsores or other discomfort
• Exercising patients by helping them walk