In the world of senior care, the pursuit of excellence stands as a perpetual goal. Assisted living facilities continually strive to elevate the quality of care for their residents. At the heart of this lies the implementation of robust assisted living education programs, tailored to caregivers’ evolving needs. Educational programs focused on initiatives such as resident care, memory care, and safety, can help implement positive systemic changes within communities. When these programs are easy to access at times that best suit staff or caregivers, it can remove barriers to furthering staff educ ..read more

In an assisted living facility, infection control training for nurses and direct staff can help increase the quality of care and emphasize a culture of safety. Infections can quickly endanger not only the lives of fragile older adults, but also the health of staff and visitors. That’s why infection control best practices should be communicated clearly and followed by everyone. As the recent pandemic brought to light, large outbreaks of infection can quickly spread through assisted living facilities where older adults who are more prone to infections are in close proximity with workers and visi ..read more

Bitter arctic cold, snow, sleet and freezing rain have affected much of the US already in 2024, including the South. Administrators need to take precautions to keep not only residents but staff and visitors safe as well. That’s why it is important to have a detailed emergency preparedness plan and staff trained for winter safety in assisted living facilities. Avoid frostbite and hypothermia Older adults are particularly susceptible to the cold because the ability to regulate body temperature becomes more difficult with age. Medical conditions can affect this, too. Frostbite damages the skin an ..read more

Thirty-four percent of residents in assisted living and other residential care facilities have Alzheimer’s or other dementias, according to data from the Alzheimer’s Association. For assisted living providers, dementia training has been shown to enhance quality of care, reduce staff burnout, and improve empathy and understanding, which ultimately improves satisfaction of residents and their families. Providing excellent customer service is an established way of building reputation and boosting occupancy rates for assisted living communities. But for many providers, finding the resources for de ..read more

With nearly 73 million Baby Boomers expected to have reached 65 by 2030, senior living careers offer stability and opportunity. Assisted living director certification can help current and aspiring executive directors stand out as leaders in the senior living industry. What are the steps to become an assisted living executive director? Assisted living represents a nexus of health care, housing, and hospitality. Executive directors need to work well with people, have a desire to help others, and have extensive knowledge in health care, operations, and sales and marketing. The path to becoming an ..read more

Seniors living in assisted living facilities are especially vulnerable during emergencies. That’s why staff need regular fire safety training in care homes. A recent study has shown that to be effective fire safety training needs to cover the basics of fire science, as well as provide a thorough explanation of the facility’s emergency preparedness plan and reinforcement through drills. Fire danger Team members should be instructed on basic fire science, including common causes of fire, locations that they occur most often, how they spread, and the dangers of fire and smoke. The majority of fir ..read more

Keeping residents safe is a continuous challenge for senior living administrators. This is especially true when it comes to elopement. To successfully minimize a facility’s elopement risk, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. This involves implementing technology measures, maintaining physical barriers that do not impede fire safety, developing a comprehensive action plan, and ensuring staff are well-trained to assess and manage such situations. Most importantly, senior living administrators and staff need a solid understanding of why residents attempt elopement. Wandering or elopement? Tolk ..read more

Each year, adverse drug events send approximately 450,000 seniors to the emergency room, more than twice the number of younger people, according to the CDC. With more than three-quarters of residents in assisted living facilities needing help taking prescribed medications, the risk of an adverse drug event is high. That’s why regular assisted living medication management training is critical for staff to help keep residents safe. The medications most likely to cause adverse events are also the ones that are highly prescribed to older adults: blood thinners such as warfarin, diabetes medicines ..read more

Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias often exhibit challenging behaviors such as aggression, agitation, disinhibition, mood and sleep disturbances. Wandering and elopement are also concerns. Managing these behaviors can be difficult, especially in senior living and memory care communities. Senior care staff training can help improve the quality of care for residents with dementia, while reducing liability and increasing employee job satisfaction. Strategies for managing challenging behavior To provide quality care and mitigate the inherent risk and liability involved, senior ..read more

An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s today, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. By 2060, that number is projected to more than double to 13.8 million. Since the pandemic began, there has been a tremendous shortage in caregiving, both by family members and friends and by professional services available at long-term care facilities. Training caregivers is critical to ensure residents with dementia receive quality care. Assisted living training videos offer a cost-effective method for administrators to train staff quickly and conveniently. Understa ..read more