This curriculum guide is designed for use by instructors whose responsibility it is to prepare persons to provide basic direct care for residents living in adult care homes. Addressed in the individual units of part I (which contains information to be covered in the first 40 hours of training) are the following topics: working in an adult care home; stereotypes and facts about aging; basic communication skills; communicating with the confused resident; principles of body mechanics: lifting and moving the resident; using restraints, wheelchairs, geriatric chairs, and lifts; infection prevention and control; maintaining the resident's unit; safety; cleanliness and grooming; assisting the resident with food and fluids; and elimination. A skills checklist ends this segment. Part II (containing information to be covered in the remaining 50 hours of instruction) addresses working in an adult care home; basic emotional needs; possible losses due to aging; caring for the confused or withdrawn resident; sexuality in aging; caring for the dying resident; physical changes accompanying aging; complications of immobility and their prevention; applying heat and cold; sleep and rest; nutrition and fluid needs; urinary elimination; bowel elimination; observing and measuring vital signs; isolation; observing, reporting, and recording; the resident's care plan; admitting and discharging the resident; first aid in the adult care home; fire prevention and safety; and tornado preparedness. Each unit contains learner objectives, a content outline, and teaching aids and guidelines. (MN)