Interview: Coordinating Care in Assisted Living Facilities

Working At Small Assisted Living Facilities

Small assisted living facilities like Nehalem Bay House build their services around their residents, offering a home-like atmosphere along with all the care offered at larger assisted living facilities. At Nehalem Bay House, the one person who makes sure each of the 33 residents feels at home and receives the highest quality care is Teresa Johnson, Care Coordinator.

Coordinating Care at Assisted Living Facilities

Teresa came to Nehalem unsure of whether she'd work in local preschools, elementary schools or assisted living facilities. But with experience as a lead Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at a larger nursing home and an Interdisciplinary BA in Health and Social Services, she draws upon her training and her relational skills to serve her residents every day. Her job includes creating and managing each resident's care plan. To this end, she pursues relationships with each resident, gets to know their family members, and even facilitates their medical appointments.

Assisted living facilities across the nation aspire to provide personalized care for their residents. In truly small, intimate assisted living facilities like Nehalem Bay House, qualified, caring people like Teresa can bridge the gap and make assisted living feel less like a facility and more like a home. Teresa can typically be found enjoying a meal with residents in the dining area, welcoming them into her office for conferences or chats, or walking through the halls offering support to the onsite nurse and doling out treats to residents' pets.

The Slower Pace of Life at Assisted Living Facilities

Having worked in a larger nursing home, Teresa relishes the slower pace of life offered at smaller assisted living facilities. Instead of feeling hurried by unending demands on her time, she now enjoys opportunities to connect with residents instead of rushing off to the next thing. "I still have A, B, C and D to get done, but I don't have to do it all in five minutes," she said.

Even with a smaller staff than other assisted living facilities, residents at Nehalem Bay House still enjoy excellent care, including RN support and on-site lab work. "It's our job to help them in whatever way they need, whenever they need it." The home-like atmosphere provides residents and staff members alike an opportunity to enjoy long-term, independent relationships in a supportive, health-centric environment.

Inside Scoop: Benefits at Assisted Living Facilities

Though they typically enjoy reasonably good health, many residents at assisted living facilities require a lot of medication. Knowing that all of their medicinal needs are being carefully provided for, charted and monitored gives them—and their families—peace of mind. "We call this a 'community' for a reason," Teresa explains. "Residents know they're supported 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but they take initiative to get to know the staff and other residents as well."

Number One Tip for Choosing an Assisted Living Facility

Teresa's main tip for people looking into assisted living facilities? "If the staff is happy, the residents are happy, and the place smells and looks okay, it's probably a really great place!" It may sound simplistic, but happy, well-cared-for residents and a clean, respectful environment are the backbone of a successful assisted living facility. For more tips, see our article, Choosing an Assisted Living Program.

Find Assisted Living Facilities in Your Area

If you're ready to start your own search for that perfect fit facility, begin by browsing through our online directory of assisted living facilities. Just fill out the Find Assisted Living search box above and you can browse through pictures, read detailed descriptions and get pertinent information about assisted living facilities near you. Or, for more personalized attention, call the toll-free number under the search box. Our elder care advisors are standing by to speak with you about your needs and get you in contact with facilities that might be a good fit. Our services are always complimentary with no strings attached.

There are likely facilities with qualified, dedicated staff members like Teresa just down the road from you. Find out by starting the search for an assisted living facility near you.

* Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 (most current Census estimated population is 205)