PSS Graduates The PSS Course graduates stand with course director Debbie Siegel, RN (center, back row). In front, from left, are Karen Swisher, Trish Monroe and Lauri Loftus; in back, Cheryl Plummer, D. Siegel and Ellen Brown.

The most recent class of Personal Support Specialist (PSS) sponsored by the Heart to Heart Personal Companion Program at St. Andrews Village has completed its course of study.

A PSS provides direct support to consumers (clients) in assisted living programs, residential care facilities, adult day service programs and home care settings. Supportive services provided by a PSS include helping older or disabled adults in their homes. A PSS may help with bathing, showering, ambulation, dressing, cooking, shopping and cleaning.

The graduating students may now work in the settings mentioned. The training also qualifies the graduates who want to start training as a certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to use some of their class credit toward the CNA training program.

The graduates completed a 50-hour course, consisting of 40 hours of classroom and 10 hours of skill training and have received a certificate from the State of Maine Department of Human Services.

"The PSS students all did very well in the class and I have confidence they will perform their jobs with competence and care," said Debbie Siegel RN, program director. "Our focus is making sure that our graduates have the skills necessary to provide the level of care that all clients and customers of St. Andrews Healthcare have come to expect whether the graduates come to work for us or work in another environment" concluded Siegel.

The Heart to Heart Personal Companion program is a State of Maine Department of Human Services registered program that is offered to residents of the Boothbay peninsula. More and more seniors want to stay at home with assistance and having trained caregivers is important to providing excellent care.

For more information on the program, contact Siegel at 633-4105.