What Training Do Assisted Living Facility Caregivers Receive?
One of the first questions any family needs to ask when looking at an assisted living facility is about the qualifications of the facility’s care staff. These are the people who will interface with your loved one with their daily activities and provide them with hands-on care, so you want to make sure they have the expertise and temperament to help your family member. This is especially vital for memory care communities.
In this article, as a premier senior living facility in Carmel, IN, our team at Willow Haven Senior Homes addresses the questions you may have about the kinds of training that long-term care and assisted living facility employees should receive.
Assisted Living Facility Caregivers
Different Levels of Care Require Specific Training
You wouldn’t expect an assisted living facility’s receptionist to have the same medical training as its staff nurses. Common training categories and requirements include the following.
- Medical professionals especially registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), generally have the most specialized training. This includes a wide spectrum of subject matter, from developments in medicine to patient privacy regulations.
- Medical paraprofessionals, such as medication technicians and nursing aides (CNAs), have less medical training. Much of their training focuses on how to assist with the most common medical issues, administer medication, or help seniors with activities of daily living.
- Housekeeping and maintenance personnel need recurrent training on the common hazards they encounter daily. This may include reporting safety hazards and reducing residents’ risk of falling.
- Food preparation staff should have training in food safety and proper food preparation. At least one person on a facility’s kitchen staff should be certified in nutrition as well.
What Training Should You Expect Assisted Living Caregivers To Have?
Some training requirements are universal for all staff at an assisted living facility, from the maintenance to the medical staff. At a minimum, you can expect every employee at your chosen facility to be trained in that facility’s procedures. They should also be aware of the legal requirements that apply to them as caregivers. They should also be committed to the institution and the well-being of the residents.
Infectious disease prevention should be another priority for a facility’s staff. Anyone who has face-to-face contact with residents should have training in this area. They should know protocol about proper handwashing, glove use, mask use, and recognizing when someone may be ill. Observant staff members can keep a small disease outbreak from becoming uncontrollable.
Any senior care facility should perform background checks on each of its employees before they start work to screen for people who have a history of abuse, neglect, or violence.
Depending upon your state regulations, caregivers may be required to have CNA (certified nursing assistant) certification as well as CPR and first aid certification. If your loved one has a health emergency, especially a stroke or a heart attack, the quick response of staff may save their life.
How Comprehensive Staff Training Benefits Assisted Living Residents
Balancing a person’s care with their need for independence may be difficult, but with the proper training, it’s possible. Moreover, working at an assisted living facility means providing many different levels of care to account for each resident’s needs.
When you are looking for assisted living facilities, make a point of asking about the training each provides for its staff. What does it require, and what is optional? What training do local and state regulations require, and does the facility have stricter requirements? Prioritize facilities that focus on comprehensive, ongoing training for all employees.
The better training a facility’s staff has, the better care your loved one will receive. A culture of safety and education can improve more than just one life.
Discover the Best Assisted Living Facility Near You in Carmel, Indiana
Willow Haven Senior Homes is located in Carmel, Indiana, just a short distance away from the robust city of Indianapolis. In addition to markets, parks, and great access to healthcare, Carmel offers a great quality of life.
Willow Haven’s assisted living facility has a secured yard and memory care center on-site, as well as laundry service and daily social activities for all residents. Contact us online or call us at (317) 207-0002 for answers to all your questions. Read our blog to learn how to tell if your loved one is getting good care in assisted living.