What challenges are you facing?

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I'm working on designing a Seminar for my local ALF communities. I want to know what are the biggest challenges to you as nurses or administrators of Assisted Living?

On the phone today with local facilities I was given the following as some examples:

Staffing - Recruiting, retention and motivation (mainly aides)

Dementia - Education for both the families and the staff.

Dementia - For Family to learn the disease process and rate of decline

Dementia - For staff - they don't get it. Train them in "therapeutic fibbing"

What other challenges would you say you wish someone could find the magic answer to and package it and give it to you?

- Megs :)

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Megan

Im starting tomorrow as a health service director.

Been a RN for years, this will be a different type of nursing for me. When I figure out what types of things are needed I will repost to you. Just didnt want you to be out there alone.

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Good luck on the new job!

I've been around the industry for 6 years and pharmacy in all its forms for about 20 yrs. Let me know if you need anything!

- Megs :)

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Megan

With only 2 days on the job, I do see alot of potential and current problems.

I have to agree with you on your issues of dementia for pt/family/CNA(personal care techs) as far as education goes.

Also retaining the CNA's here. Currently we are highering, and the rate for them has been increased to 9.50 an hour. With this increase, there has been even more increases in cna's interest to apply. Though we do not advertise the wage of starting, it is told over the phone. I think alot of it has to do with word of mouth.

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Okay, I think I can answer this one for you with what I have dealt with in the past few weeks.

1. Staffing! Probably the most difficult part of the job. Making sure that the aides are competant (sp) to complete their jobs.

Like I tell my boss, Im going gardening. I first need to weed the bed, then when I'm done I hope to have a wonderful garden.

Anyways, lots of call ins that are unnecessary.

2. Theft: Major issue. Since 1 week prior to my hire there have been 9 reports of theft of resident property like cash, jewerly worth alot, and the latest an unopened bottle of booze.

Yes, these thefts are of residents property. There have been fingerprinting done on one of the latest incidences, but we now have to wait until the it comes back from the crime lab. Police reports have been filed and I hoped they catch him/her, or him, or her. There are a few of us directors who have our suspicions, but what do you do. The aides have no idea about what is going on and I want to keep it that way for now.

So far that is some of my most challenging issues to date.

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