How to Build an Assisted Living Care Team
Last Updated: January 16, 2019
Building an effective assisted living care team is crucial for success in senior care as care professionals provide not only companionship, medical expertise and program stimulation for the senior residents; they also provide the foundation for the community.
“An assisted living community is nothing without the expert care and team of professionals working behind the scenes,” comments Dr. Leslie Kernisan, A Place for Mom expert and geriatrician. “It is these people who families trust with their senior loved ones.” Learn more about four simple steps that you can take to build an assisted living care team with your family.
Building an Assisted Living Care Team With Your Family
There is nothing more emotional than watching parents and senior loved ones give up their independence and require round-the-clock care. When families and seniors select an assisted living community, it’s a life-changing decision.
Dr. Kernisan notes, “People need to be educated and informed and need to look at the big picture. Communities need people who can step up to this obligation.”
Learn more from these four tips on how to build a successful assisted living care team with your family:
1. Does the community go beyond the standards of care?
State-mandated regulations of care are clear and care teams must meet these requirements. However, going beyond these standards of care is what each assisted living community should strive for as keeping residents happy and healthy is more than training; it’s building a care team of enthusiastic people that want to go to work and help their residents. In fact, many caregivers and residents become close friends as they spend so much time together. Going beyond standards of care means creating a senior living experience that puts residents first.
2. Focus on care teams with ongoing training.
Both the community management staff, as well as medical professionals, need to meet state-mandated standards of care in addition to continuing education programs and training. A good team consists of knowledgeable individuals who are informed, motivated and who remain current with their certifications and licenses. Many assisted living communities also provide their own education and training programs to get everyone on the same page, with a consistent methodology for care and processes.
3. Is the community teamwork-focused?
Good care requires teamwork, bottom line. The assisted living managers need to be on the same page as the event and kitchen staff, and the medical teams to keep everyone informed. Quality of life for residents also includes camaraderie and community harmony, and good teamwork is the heart of each of these things. There needs to be a system in place to keep everyone on the same page and keep the community coordinated and professional.
4. Look at care teams with good communication.
Families and residents rely on assisted living care teams to not only inform them of their loved ones’ medical conditions but also work within their teams to provide stellar care. Whether that’s a computer system for tracking care and medical treatment or good email and phone communication to help keep everyone informed of each care choice in addition to fun events; good communities set the bad communities apart from the excellent ones.
What do you think is most important when building an assisted living care team? We’d like to hear your suggestions in the comments below.
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