Understanding Your Nursing Care In Assisted Living Facilities
If you are at a point in your life where you are considering moving to an assisted living facility, you may be concerned about nursing care. You likely know that you will have a registered nurse and staff nearby. What you may not know is what each type of nursing staff and support staff members can do to make you comfortable and feel more at home. Here are a few key points to know about the nursing staff at your assisted living facility.
Nursing Assistants
Nursing assistants are the portion of the nursing staff you will see the most often. These members of the nursing support staff will check your vital signs daily, check in on you frequently, help you with daily living activities, and provide you any other help you need. For example, you may need more towels or washcloths. Your nursing assistant will bring those to you. They will also report to the nurse on duty if you are having any health issues, such as unusual blood pressures or temperatures.
LPN and RN
You will generally have an LPN and RN on duty for each floor or wing of the assisted living facility. The LPN and RN will provide you with medication management, prescription refills if necessary, and regular check-ups on your health. They may also provide wound care, bandage changes, and check on your overall healthcare needs. If you are having any issues reported by the nursing assistants or yourself, the LPN and RN will be the next point of contact. They may also be the point of contact to the director of nursing if the issue escalates.
Director of Nursing
The director of nursing for the facility is someone you may not see as often. They are generally on site and working between all the areas of the assisted living facility. They usually respond to calls regarding falls, needs for ambulances, and issues that may need to be escalated to a hospital. They can also help with other issues, including contacting the doctor on call if you are having a medication reaction or need.
When you are ready to choose your assisted living facility, contact your area for several options. Many facilities can offer you walk through appointments. This will allow you to see what the facility has to offer and how it can benefit you and your health needs. You can also ask questions about the staff, the daily life, and any questions you have regarding living at the facility of your choice. Click here to learn more about assisted living services you can use.