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If you have a deep desire to serve others, there are many career opportunities available to you in community care.
State Tested Nurse Aides (STNAs) are a vital part of senior living communities. STNAs fulfill the most hands-on role in the resident care process.
Interested in a career as a State Tested Nurse Aide?Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) provide personal, professional medical care to residents. Both require professional degrees.
Interested in a career in nursing?A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is responsible for the coordination and performance of nursing activities in an assigned section/unit during a designated shift. In the absence of other senior management, an LPN may be responsible for oversight of the facility during certain shifts.
A Registered Nurse (RN) provides professional nursing care to patients to ensure their comfort and well‐being. RNs administer prescribed medications and treatments, perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, and maintain residents’ medical records upon observation. They also oversee other workers such as LPNs and CNAs and may assist a physician/medical director during treatment and examination of a resident.
The Unit Manager is responsible for supervising the nursing staff (CNAs, LPNs, RNs) on an assigned unit to ensure continuity and quality of resident care while promoting an environment of learning and independence.
The Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) is responsible for supervising clinical staff (CNAs, LPNs, RNs) to help ensure the continuity and quality of resident care. In the Director of Nursing’s absence, the ADON assumes responsibility for the nursing department.
The Director of Nursing (DON) is responsible for supervising all nursing staff, ensuring there is adequate nursing staff, and ensuring that the staff’s skills remain current to meet the needs of the residents and state and federal regulations. The DON oversees the development and implementation of nursing policy and procedure and communication of the needs of the residents to the physicians.
The Quality Assurance (QA) Nurse looks for ways to improve procedures within a skilled nursing facility or an assisted living community, with the goal of improving resident care. To meet the continued regulatory changes, the QA Nurse participates in the development, evaluation, and implementation of policies and procedures and continuing education related to professional standards of the nursing practice. QA Nurses are sometimes facility based but oversee multiple facilities.
Administrators in senior living communities are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the facility and ensuring they meet all state and federal regulations.
Interested in a career in administration?In collaboration with health care professionals, social services personnel advocate for patients, help new residents adjust, and provide counseling.
Interested in a career in social services?Social service designees are entry-level social work assistants who work in senior living communities. Social service designees work under the supervision of licensed social workers and other staff who have more education and experience and assist these professionals with their daily tasks. They often conduct admission interviews, inform residents and their families of their rights, advocate for residents with social services organizations, help residents to adjust to living in the facility, and coordinate care services.
Social workers who are employed in geriatric care communities perform several functions, including helping new residents adjust to life in their new environment, advocating for the residents’ needs and rights, providing supportive counseling and making psychosocial assessments. Social workers collaborate with other health care professionals, such as physicians and nurses, to develop an individualized plan of care. When a discharge is an option, the social worker will make referrals for mental health services and coordinate discharge planning. If an older adult is not expected to go home, the social worker can help him or her deal with feelings of loss or depression. The social worker’s duties may be related to end of life planning. Any facility with more than 120 beds must employ a qualified social worker on a full-time basis.
Therapists and related staff members work one-on-one with residents to help them regain and strengthen body functions.
Interested in a therapy-related career?A restorative aide is a State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA) who has additional, specialized training in restorative nursing care. Restorative aides assist residents with exercises designed by the nursing or rehabilitation staff to help them improve the use of limbs and body functions. A restorative aide’s duties can include assisting residents with walking, strength training, and range of motion exercises, dressing, and grooming. Restorative aides work as a part of a care team and are responsible for documenting residents’ daily activities and progress. Like STNAs, restorative aides play a very hands-on role in the care process and spend a significant part of their time working closely with residents.
A rehabilitation therapist is a health and wellness specialist trained to assist, diagnose, and treat individuals with mobility problems caused by injury, illness, or accidents. Rehabilitation therapists are responsible for evaluating and diagnosing mobility impairments resulting from strains, fractures, sprains, diseases, and numerous other conditions. Based on their examinations, they recommend and administer therapeutic exercises and other forms of appropriate treatment.
A Director of Rehabilitation Services directs the programs and staff of the rehabilitation services department for the senior living community. They set and implement guidelines for rehabilitation programs such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy and assign patients to staff therapists for treatment and review residents’ progress. The director of rehabilitation also communicates results of resident care to other services and departments.
Care coordination staff work with new residents and their families. Their duties include admissions and customer service.
Interested in a career in customer care?The Customer Care Coordinator (CCC) oversees the welcoming of new resident admissions throughout the facility on their first day or the first day back after a hospital stay. The CCC completes resident orientation, helps residents to acclimate to their new surroundings, and contacts the family to ease anxiety and answer any questions they may have. The CCC serves as a bridge of communication between the clinical and admissions teams in matters of resident customer care concerns and provides follow-up phone contact to all residents discharged from the facility to ensure a smooth transition home.
The Business Office Manager is responsible for all financial transactions and reconciliations as well as business office record keeping with the facility, supervising any subordinates, and providing customer service to our residents and families.
The Admissions Director coordinates all aspects of resident care, including admissions, discharges, resident assessments, and care plans with residents, residents’ families, staff, and administration. The Admissions Director provides facility tours and serves as a liaison between hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers who provide patient referrals to the facility.
Activities directors and staff add a little fun to residential life. They direct and assist with recreational activities and events.
Interested in a career in activities?An Activity Assistant coordinates the activity program to meet the needs, interests, and capabilities of the residents.
The Activity Director is responsible for directing the development, implementation, supervision, and ongoing evaluation of the activities program. This includes scheduling activities, both individual and groups, implementing and delegating the implementation of these programs, monitoring and evaluating the response to the programs to determine if the activities meet the assessed needs of the resident.
It takes many hands to ensure life runs smoothly in a senior care community. Laundry, maintenance, housekeeping, and dietary staff members all play vital roles.
Interested in a career in support services?The Housekeeping Assistant keeps the facility and resident rooms clean, odor-free, and in good order. They provide a clean, appealing, safe, and sanitary environment for the facilities residents, visitors, and staff. The Housekeeping Supervisor directs, controls, plans, and modifies the Housekeeping Department to ensure a clean and safe environment for the facility.
The Laundry Assistant keeps facility linens and personal clothing clean and in good repair, maintain standards of sanitation, and meets residents’ daily laundry needs by providing adequate supplies of clean clothing and house linens. The Laundry Supervisor directs, controls, plans, and modifies the Housekeeping Department to ensure a clean and safe environment for the facility.
A Maintenance Assistant ensures the comfort and safety of the residents, visitors, and staff through proper repair, maintenance, and custodial services of the facility, building, and grounds. They assist the facility staff in continually providing a clean and orderly environment in a safe and sanitary manner. The Maintenance Supervisor provides maintenance support and assistance to the facility and the Administrator for any direction given, to maintain the physical plant, its property, and grounds, thus to work to assure the comfort and safety of the residents and staff.
The Dietary Aide is responsible for the proper delivery of meals and nutrients at scheduled times and places while assisting in sanitary maintenance of the assigned work area.
The Cook is responsible for the preparation and service of all food and nourishment. This position is responsible for cleaning all equipment, pots, and pans, and utensils used in the preparation and service of food. They are also responsible for cleaning their own working area. This position is considered to be a working leadership position and requires self-discipline, diplomacy, and adaptability.
The Assistant Dietary Manager assists in the managing of all aspects of the dietary department, keeping the Dietary Manager informed of any problems relating to the dietary department and relieving the Dietary Manager on days off. The Dietary Manager supervises, instructs, and evaluates employees engaged in preparing and serving meals while maintaining high standards of sanitation and safety.
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