Difference in LTC Question

Hi,

Congrads on making the discussion to pursue the field of healthcare.
Many LTC and Assisted Living Facilities have their own training programs to meet the demand. I feel it is a great introduction to the field healthcare. You are generally trained by Nurses so the training should be just like any other job that provides on- the -job training. They should have an outline curriculum with exams and practices. If you are really interested you are going to have to check it out for yourself, and if you find that you are uncomfortable with their instruction, then you will know that, that place isn't for you. I started off myself in a similar job 18 yrs ago. We took a 2 week training course and by the third week I was working with patients. The course was taught by RN's one ran the classroom and one ran the practices in a lab. In that short period of time we had exams every other day and then a final written and practical.

* One important thing..... Usually if you don't at some point get certified by the state you can only work at that facility, unless you obtain another position elsewhere and they train you as well. I am not sure if this is always the case.

Good Luck

As I understand it to work in a long term care facility (LTC) as an aide in MI you have to be certified. If you are not certified the facility you work in can be cited when the facility has thier state evaluations (yearly). Assisted living facilities do not require the same certification as the people there are generally able to do more for themselves (i.e. they are continent of bowel and bladder). Home care aides are not required to be certified either. I know from talking to several aides at assisted living facilities there are some residents who do require quite a bit of care. Remember though that having certification dosen't necessarily make an aide good or the level of care better. The best way to insure your family member recieves good care is to visit regularily, attend care conferences, view the family members chart, and generally make sure that the home, whether long term care or assisted living, is doing their job. Even when these facilities are staffed well being an aide is hard work. The rate of aide turn over is high (my nurse aide instructor told us six months is the average life span). Hope this helps