Keys to Evaluating Senior Living Staff Credentials

Every family has heard horror stories about nursing home mistreatment and failings. When they leave a family member in your care, it makes sense that they would be concerned about their safety and your staff's qualifications.

Assisted living facilities jobs aren't given out to just any person on the street. Many of them are hired specifically for their credentials and work experience. That way, they can provide the kind of care their residents need and deserve.

There are some of the elder care employment qualifications that your assisted living community should focus on and how they maintain their level of care.

Responsibilities of Senior Care Staff

An assisted living community is a type of place where seniors can live and receive as much care as they want or need. If a resident only needs help keeping their home clean, then they'll get that. If they can't drive, then the community will arrange transportation for them and other residents.

As such, elder care employment prioritizes those who have experience working with senior citizens. Staff should understand the limitations they may have to deal with, as well as provide emotional support. Experience with medical care isn't a requirement, but it helps.

A smaller assisted living community may provide a better level of care depending on how well it is staffed.

Credentials and Qualifications

Whether or not people qualify for assisted living job openings depends largely on their training and professional experience.

Their educational background determines whether or not they know what to do in certain situations or how to handle different senior needs. Professional experience confirms that they know what they're doing.

Educational Background

One of the first areas to take into account is a potential staff member's education. A high school degree often isn't enough for them to qualify. Instead, your community should interview applicants with degrees in nursing, gerontology, or social work.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) also qualify, but a medical background isn't a requirement.

At the very least, they should complete something like a Certified Direct Care Professional training course. These help them meet the legal requirements to work for employers. It also helps students transition into future positions.

Professional Experience

Experience in senior care is another crucial factor. Even if someone has all the educational qualifications, they may not have the experience required for the position.

Ideally, you should find a staff member with several years of experience working in a similar community setting. They could also benefit from time spent in different settings, such as a hospital or a nursing home.

By hiring the best people possible, you can let families rest knowing that their loved one's caregivers are trustworthy.

Interview Process

The interview process is a key part of hiring for senior living careers. A person with the perfect background and professional experience may serve better in a different role than the one you're filling. As such, you want to meet them face to face and get a first impression.

Before the interview, make sure to have a clear understanding of the job requirements. Create a detailed description that outlines their duties and desirable traits.

During the interview, ask them about their previous experience in elder care. What specific skills will they bring to the position? How would they handle challenging situations they may encounter?

It also helps to ask questions that you can verify later, such as criminal history and work history.

Staff Background Check

Background checks ensure that the person you're hiring is who they say they are. It allows you to verify their resume as well as see if they have anything unsavory in their past.

For example, a criminal history does not disqualify someone from working in an assisted living community. However, a crime committed against a resident or someone in a similar position does.

At the very least, you should look into a person's criminal background and professional references, and verify their credentials. You may also want to check their housing situation if the job requires them to live within a certain distance.

Ongoing Training and Development

Even after hiring, it's important to maintain that level of training a staff member came with. Continuous education makes sure that they not only stay proficient in their job but also stay up to date with any changing standards and practices.

Ongoing training and development can take the form of workshops, seminars, and online courses. It can also help to send them newsletters with any innovations or news updates about your industry.

You can make participation a requirement, but it also helps to offer a monetary reward for anyone who joins workshops.

Evaluating Staff Performance

Staff evaluations go hand-in-hand with ongoing training and development. Without regular performance evaluations, employers will have a difficult time telling whether or not an employee is doing their job correctly. It also allows them to find areas that need improvement.

Evaluations can be done with a combination of self-assessment, peer reviews, and supervisor evaluations. Peer reviews should be anonymous. You can then address any areas of concern or provide additional training as needed.

Another area to pay attention to is resident feedback. Residents will often complain if there is a staff member who isn't doing their job or mistreats them. These are very important to pay attention to if you want to avoid senior abuse and a potential lawsuit.

Outside audits provide a completely unbiased view of your community and its staff. The Bureau of Assisted Living (BAL) is in charge of oversight and regulation of assisted living communities.

Fill Your Assisted Living Facilities Jobs

Assisted living facilities jobs aren't for everyone. These positions take a special kind of person with certain educational and professional qualifications. You want to make sure whoever you choose to fill your staff will take good care of your residents.

LakeHouse Lake Mills is a smaller assisted living community that staffs a full-time registered nurse 24 hours a day. Our community is pet-friendly, and you can participate in any of our countless social activities. Reach out today to learn more and set up a visit.