Long Term Care Careers


	LONG TERM CARE CAREERS Long Term Care Careers Overview As Texans are growing older and requiring a variety of long term care services, skilled long term care professionals and nursing home facility staff are providing valuable quality care and making a significant impact on these seniors’ lives. In many communities across our state, skilled nursing care facilities are the largest local employer, providing fulfilling and rewarding careers to those who care for seniors and other residents (such as rehabilitative and developmentally disabled patients). A sampling of these careers is outlined below. Caregiving staff: Activity professionals Activity professionals work with residents to ensure that their physical, mental and emotional needs are being met through leisure interests. Resident activities are tailored to meet the needs of the individual, and examples include arts and crafts, games, dancing, exercise, needlework and gardening. Certified nursing assistants Certified nursing assistants help care for residents under the supervision of registered nurses and other facility medical staff. Nursing assistants provide continuous daily care – such as feeding, dressing and bathing – and help transport patients, take vital signs and answer patient calls. Nursing assistants spend a great deal of time providing assistance at the bedside and develop ongoing relationships with residents. Dietary managers Dietary managers plan and manage the facility’s overall operations of food staffing, ordering and preparation, working closely with dieticians and the administrator to maintain accordance with resident needs, facility policies, physician orders and appropriate regulations. Dieticians Dieticians plan, oversee and evaluate nutritional plans for residents and oversee implementation of procedures to ensure compliance with nursing home regulations. Dieticians also educate residents about nutritional information and administer nutrition therapy in coordination with the medical team. Dietary aides Dietary aides set up and serve residents’ meals, helping to ensure that mealtime is a pleasant experience. Dietary aides also prepare and deliver snacks, wash dishes and help clean dining areas. Director of nursing The director of nursing plans and directs the facility’s nursing services, overseeing nursing staff and ensuring that proper staffing is continuously maintained. Occupational therapists Occupational therapists assist residents in regaining motor skills and tasks to be used on a daily basis, either at home or in an occupation. Occupational therapists often help prepare residents for returning to home after an extended rehabilitative stay at a facility. Physical therapists Physical therapists help patients restore, maintain and promote overall health by overseeing appropriate exercise, range-of-motion and rehabilitative functions that that restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. Recreational therapists Recreational therapists help residents recover basic motor functions and reasoning abilities; reduce stress and anxiety; build confidence; and regain greater independence by using leisure activities – such as arts and crafts, animals, dance and movement and community outings – to improve and maintain general health and well-being. Registered nurses Registered nurses oversee daily nursing activities in their assigned areas and provide direct skilled nursing care to residents. Responsibilities may include assessing patients’ health status, providing health counseling and administering medications and treatment prescribed by the patient’s physician. Speech therapists Speech therapists help patients who have suffered traumatic illness or injury in regaining the ability to speak, as well as restore control over writing, language and the cognitive link between these functions. Administrative staff: Administrator A nursing home administrator oversees the daily functions of the facility in accordance with federal, state and local standards and regulations, and works closely with caregiving and administrative staff to ensure that highest quality care is delivered to residents at all times. Human resources specialist Human resources specialists oversee recruitment and retention of staff, and manage facility records and benefits plans for personnel. Human resources directors may also manage the hiring and disciplining of employees. Receptionist The receptionist reports to the nursing home administrator or assistant administrator, performing clerical functions, answering calls and responding to external questions according to the facility’s policies. Social services director Social services directors plan and oversee patient admissions and discharges according to facility policies and procedures. Directors work with residents, family members and visitors to ensure a smooth transition and experience throughout each resident’s nursing home stay. Environmental Services: Housekeeping staff The housekeeping staff is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the facility at all times, and ensuring the continuous upholding of environmental safety, infection control and sanitation. Laundry staff Laundry staff collect, clean and distribute facility linens and residents’ laundry, and are responsible for ensuring the utmost sanitation standards and maintaining laundry equipment and supplies. Maintenance staff Maintenance staff oversee the day-to-day upkeep of a nursing home’s utilities, equipment and grounds – including heating and air conditioning, safety equipment, sprinkler systems and lawn care.

Long Term Care Careers Overview

As Texans are growing older and requiring a variety of long term care services, skilled long term care professionals and nursing home facility staff are providing valuable quality care and making a significant impact on these seniors’ lives.

Caregiving staff:

Dietary managers

Dietary managers plan and manage the facility’s overall operations of food staffing, ordering and preparation, working closely with dieticians and the administrator to maintain accordance with resident needs, facility policies, physician orders and appropriate regulations.

Dieticians

Dieticians plan, oversee and evaluate nutritional plans for residents and oversee implementation of procedures to ensure compliance with nursing home regulations. Dieticians also educate residents about nutritional information and administer nutrition therapy in coordination with the medical team.

Dietary aides

Dietary aides set up and serve residents’ meals, helping to ensure that mealtime is a pleasant experience. Dietary aides also prepare and deliver snacks, wash dishes and help clean dining areas.

Administrator

A nursing home administrator oversees the daily functions of the facility in accordance with federal, state and local standards and regulations, and works closely with caregiving and administrative staff to ensure that highest quality care is delivered to residents at all times.

Human resources specialist Human resources specialists oversee recruitment and retention of staff, and manage facility records and benefits plans for personnel. Human resources directors may also manage the hiring and disciplining of employees.

Environmental Services:

Housekeeping staff

The housekeeping staff is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the facility at all times, and ensuring the continuous upholding of environmental safety, infection control and sanitation.

Laundry staff

Laundry staff collect, clean and distribute facility linens and residents’ laundry, and are responsible for ensuring the utmost sanitation standards and maintaining laundry equipment and supplies.

Human resources specialist
Human resources specialists oversee recruitment and retention of staff, and manage facility records and benefits plans for personnel. Human resources directors may also manage the hiring and disciplining of employees.