For many people with loved ones in nursing homes or senior living communities, the role of the administrator or executive director might go unnoticed. Administrators play a crucial role in managing the care of our loved ones. To become an administrator is a commitment of care. COVID-19 has added another layer of dedication. It's taken a physical and emotional toll. Our administrators bravely worked through the pandemic, often without adequate protective equipment, while dealing with media scrutiny and conflicting regulatory requirements. They not only touch the lives of residents and families but play an important role in staff satisfaction. Let's take some time to understand the role's responsibilities and show our appreciation for the complex care work they do every day.
Becoming an administrator is no easy undertaking. In a press release earlier this year, the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) said, "They undertake a rigorous internship, followed by state and national exams. Upon becoming an administrator, they must continue life-long learning to provide the best care possible. They are masters of multi-tasking, taking into account every aspect of a person's life, not just their medical needs while building a sense of home and community."
Let's take a look at a day in the life of an administrator. This article in provider magazine really summed it up. "Mrs. Lerner in the long-term nursing unit has refused to allow staff to use a Hoyer lift to transfer her out of her bed. Mr. Doyle in the Alzheimer's unit wants to be moved to a different room because his noisy roommate is keeping him up all night. The census is lower than the budget projections, the steamer in the kitchen unexpectedly needs to be replaced, and a financial report is due to the corporate office." This is just a sampling of the many issues that administrators must juggle every day.
These are just a few of their day-to-day responsibilities:
Overseeing all operations
Responsible for building maintenance
Hiring and supervising staff
Implementing and managing quality assurance protocols
Coordinating between caregiver and organizational departments
Ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.
Designing a facility budget and securing additional funding through grants and donations
Attending board meetings to outline facility health and trajectory of the facility
Acting as a liaison between families, patients, and staff
Overseeing food service
Representing the facility in professional and community activities
Administrators are responsible for every facet of care for residents and the operational health of the company. They must be experts in both health care and business. How do they keep up with all of these responsibilities and still manage to spend time with the residents and staff each day? Nothing short of a miracle, a good team, and the right tools.
Administrators are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing home administrator sector will see a rise of 20% by 2026. It's more important than ever that we thank the administrators working today and foster new talent for the future.
The ACHCA suggested these ways to honor and recognize your administrator:
From residents and families: flowers, candy, or some other treat; lunch or dinner out, spa gift certificates so they can be on the receiving end of caregiving.
From the center: a special meal, social or theme day hosted by someone other than your administrator, celebrate with special activities that include residents, family, volunteers, and staff.
From the community: email press releases to local newspapers.
How do we help? CareWork integrates the systems administrators use each day and gives them access to complete tasks quickly, submit automated reports, and make data-driven decisions that affect financial performance and quality of care from a single login. We cut desk time in half, and now our administrators can get back to what they do best...caring for residents and helping staff. We make care work easier.
Ready to streamline care operations? Contact us today.
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