Reading Skills for Healthcare Workers

As a home health aide, Lee works with clients in their homes. Besides caring for their health, he also prepares meals for them. His duties include talking with clients about what they like to eat, shopping for groceries, cooking for them, and making sure they are eating healthy.

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Today Lee is visiting Mrs. Chambers. He has been a home health aide for Mrs. Chambers for about a year. He knows how to prepare foods for her that she enjoys, and he helps her maintain a low-salt, low-sugar diet because Mrs. Chambers has diabetes. She doesn’t need insulin, but she regulates her blood sugar with good nutrition and checks her blood sugar regularly.

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“Hello, Lee! Did you remember the peppers and garlic?” Mrs. Chambers asks.

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“Morning, Mrs. Chambers! Yes, I got everything on the list.” Lee makes a grocery list every couple of days so he can keep Mrs. Chambers’ cupboards and refrigerator well-stocked.

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“Thank you, Lee. I wondered if you would try making that soup recipe that I got from my friend Adele,” Mrs. Chambers says.

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Lee answers, “Sure, Mrs. Chambers. I’ll cook it this afternoon for you.” Lee unpacks all of the groceries, and then he washes his hands and prepares tea for Mrs. Chambers.

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In the afternoon, Lee follows the recipe for the vegetable soup. He cuts down on the salt but adds in some seasonings for flavor. He makes extra soup so that Mrs. Chambers will have leftovers for four more meals to save time and money. He writes “vegetable soup” and the date on each plastic container and puts the containers in the freezer.

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Lee serves Mrs. Chambers the vegetable soup with whole wheat bread and a fruit salad. She loves the soup he made. Lee is glad that his love of cooking comes in handy in his job as a home health aide.