Assisted Living Resource

A resource for caregivers and administrators in the Assisted Living field

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The Issue with RCFEs

Residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) should be a place families feel comfortable leaving their loved ones, but there are a lot of misunderstandings about the function and capabilities of these facilities. In many states, the regulations aren’t very specific, leaving too much room for issues to occur. Here are a few common problems with RCFEs and why RCFE staff training is so important.

One of the biggest issues is that RCFEs are often seen as a replacement for nursing homes. Many individuals want to pay less for care but don’t realize that their family members may need the specific attention that comes with nursing facilities. RCFEs are simply not meant to administer the type of medical care certain elderly individuals need, and yet many of these facilities are full of patients that aren’t getting enough attention. Other common problems include poor medical records or receiving patients they can’t reasonably care for. RCFE staff training can help a facility run more smoothly and make sure acceptable patients are admitted correctly.

If the facility is overcrowded with undertrained staff and a patient’s health deteriorates, they may not be transferred to the appropriate facility. If medical records are poorly maintained, patients may not get the care or treatment their doctors order. There are even cases of unclean living conditions and an insufficient amount of food on the premises.

The employees in these residential care facilities are held responsible for the residents, but their employers may not be held to the proper standards. State regulations may result in poor ratios of patients and employees, which can lead to declining living conditions. RCFE staff training can help the staff learn more about their expectations and develop their abilities to better serve the facility. When they are better prepared, and with the support of their employers, they can maintain a healthy environment for residents.

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What are the Responsibilities of Assisted Living Managers?

Similar to most other businesses, assisted living facilities need a manager who oversee the activities of the rest of the staff. After acquiring assisted living manager certification, a person may not get a managerial position right away. However, when that day comes, it is vital for people to be aware of the responsibilities so that they can immediately become an asset to the facility’s residents.

While staff nurses will mostly need to work directly with residents, clinical directors have more administrative duties. They may help the executive director develop the budget for the next few quarters or suggest making changes to the facility’s operations. Directors will have a more active role in determining who will remain a part of the staff.  

While nurses will administer direct care to patients, people with assisted living manager certification will help develop an overarching plan for residents. This can include diagnosing new conditions within individuals. It can also include recommending a change to a patient’s medication dosage.

Managers provide training to staff members. Over time, new methodologies may be adopted to better suit patients’ needs. It will be the responsibility of the manager to ensure staff nurses are trained in these new practices. Depending on the size of the facility, the manager may lead these workshops independently or with other managers in the city.

Above all else, managers need to provide guidance to the other staff workers. They will play a role in hiring new physical therapists, occupational therapists and social workers. A manager also needs to be critical of the organization and identify weak points.

To become a manager, an individual will first need to acquire assisted living manager certification. However, he or she will also need to demonstrate possession of all the skills necessary to lead a team successfully. It is a difficult job to manager a large group of people, but someone needs to lead the charge.

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What You Need to Know About RCFE Certification Training

If you are interested in working with the elderly and providing compassionate care in an assisted living facility, a career in RCFE might be right for you. In order to get on your way to a fulfilling career helping others, you need to obtain your RCFE certification training. Here is what you can expect to learn from a course in assisted living education:

What the Job Entails

One of the first classes you will take will cover what, exactly, will be required of you when you land a job in the field. Many individuals think that they want to help the elderly, but once they learn about what helping them actually entails, they are not so sure. A typical day in the life of an assisted living administrator includes helping their elderly patients bathe, go to the bathroom, get dressed, administer medications, eat and a host of other everyday activities, all of which you will learn how to do during the course of your RCFE certification training.

What Types of Patients You Can Expect to Work With

What types of patients residential care facilities will take on varies from facility to facility. Some assisted living homes are willing to take on patients with dementia, while others are not. Likewise, some homes will accept applications from patients with restricted health conditions, such as those that need to be fed through a tube or those that need to be treated for bed sores. Others, however, may not be certified to take on individuals with such extensive health care needs.

What Qualifications Are Needed to Succeed

At a minimum, candidates must complete at least 40 hours of RCFE certification training. They must also pass the test and obtain 20 hours of continuing education every year. For some individuals, that is too much school work to handle. However, it is necessary to ensure that each and every patient receives the best care possible. Administrators, on the other hand, must obtain at least 80 hours of training, be at least 21 years of age and have their high school diploma. Larger facilities require administrators to have some college credits and three years of experience.

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Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) Requirements

As more seniors and those in need of continuous care move into assisted living facilities, new rules and regulations for their care are being created by lawmakers. Accordingly, it is necessary for facility administrators and staff to know and stay up to date on regulatory requirements. Being properly trained is critical to do this. These requirements are in place to provide facilities with guidelines and procedures for giving residents quality care, managing staff and submitting required reporting to regulatory agencies. The first step toward RCFE compliance is licensing.

Understanding Facility Requirements

Assisted living facilities and other residential care facilities need to be authorized by the Health and Human Services Agency, Department of Social Services (DSS). Each facility must have a written detailed operating plan that must be submitted with the application to the licensing agency. The facility operating plan must detail the proposed operation of the facility and include purpose and goal statements, staffing charts, sketches showing dimensions of the facility and grounds, money handling and family visitation hours. The operating plan must also include a program for training staff. Care facility administrators must maintain required documentation on staff, patients, dementia care, and regulatory concerns.

Becoming an RCFE Certified Facility Administrator

The RCFE administrator license application process begins with training. To become a certified administrator, an individual must first complete RCFE training, take and pass the exam, and then apply to become a certified administrator. Administrators must be well-versed in facility requirements, employee background checks, complaint administration, and health and safety codes related to the RCFE. The rules and regulations can change over time, so it is also important that once certified, administrators stay informed of any regulatory changes that may pertain to their facility.

At first, glance, knowing and following the many rules and regulations required to ensure compliance to RCFE may seem daunting. However, initial and ongoing RCFE training can go a long way to help facility staff and administrators stay compliant and current on any new RCFE requirements and regulations that affect a care facility and the quality of resident support.

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Get a Top-Notch RCFE Education With Online and Hybrid Courses

For some, working in a cubicle simply isn’t their calling. A number of those who are adverse to offices are attracted to a career in residential care. Despite the physical nature of the work, RCFE online classes are great for working professionals who need credits to stay fresh on what they need to know. They’re also a way to break into the industry as a newcomer.

There are several factors involved in creating quality assisted living education. Even when your course is online, an important consideration is the instructor. That’s because whether you’re in a classroom or watching a recorded video lecture, your learning is influenced by the person in charge of teaching you. Someone who has the right experience and makes the subject interesting is likely to have the greatest motivating effect on you as the listener.

Providers with a variety of courses may offer a good price on package deals, but there can be additional benefits to choosing an institution with a full catalog. It’s convenient to return to the same location or use your same login to benefit from other RCFE online classes. When you aren’t sure what skills are in demand, check with your training house to see what you can study to get a leg up.

Training offered in hybrid format offers the best of both worlds. RCFE administrator courses often follow a two week plan, splitting time evenly between online and classroom. Students are fans of hybrid classes because they can finish the training at their own pace and avoid having to commute to an educational center every day.

Whether you’re looking to start your own assisted living facility, grow your existing operations or expand your knowledge as an employee, RCFE online classes can be the bridge to reaching your goals. Good instructors, a variety of courses and hybrid options are signs that an institution is worth your consideration.

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Benefits of Taking RCFE Online Classes

RCFE certification is a necessity if you hope to work in an assisted care facility. People who own these establishments need to be 100 percent certain that the people they hire can carry out all the responsibilities, and the only way to prove you are qualified is to obtain certification. It takes some time to get the necessary training, but RCFE online classes are available to make the process simple and fun.

There are numerous advantages to taking classes online as opposed to going to a physical school. For starters, you are able to take the classes whenever you want. You are not beholden to show up to a classroom at a specific time. You can take classes 24 hours a day right from your computer. This means if you have another job or have additional responsibilities, you can fit your class schedule into a timeframe that is convenient for you. Taking classes from the comfort of your home means you also do not have to deal with a commute.

You will need to check with the specific online program you want to go with, but most RCFE online classes are fully approved to count toward credits to obtain RCFE certification. A wide breadth of classes is available, so in addition to getting your RCFE credits, you can also get credits toward becoming an LVN, RN or nursing home CE. Online courses are also incredibly beneficial to people who simply need to renew their certification. Most states require individuals to new their qualifications once every few years to show that they still understand the requirements of the job. This can be done online so that you can continue working with ease.

The internet has provided numerous advantages to countless people. You are now able to use it to further your career by taking RCFE online classes. Conduct research to see what classes sound good to you.  

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RCFE Training Requirements

Being a caregiver is a big responsibility. You are in charge of making sure the living home residents receive the attention and care they require. Naturally, most facilities make it mandatory that nursing home caregivers complete comprehensive training in order to work. Plenty of RCFE training programs are available, but there are certain requirements that must be met before getting started.

Going through any kind of training program will require you to be 21 years old at least. That means people who have just graduated from high school are going to be ineligible for the time being. That is another important qualification. You need to be a high school graduate to go through any training. However, if you have a GED or some other equivalent, then that would also be acceptable.   

Individuals going through the program need to complete a set number of hours working under someone else’s supervision. Once that requirement has been met, the person can begin to work independently. RCFE training requires people to go through certain training programs to deal with specific issues. For example, most states require by law that caregivers go through training that inform you on how to handle patients with dementia. An additional number of hours need to be done to train you on how to handle hospice care, restrictive health conditions and postural supports.

Finally, an application needs to be sent to the Department of Social Services.  Additional training requirements may need to be done even after you have gotten employment. Even after you have gone through all this, you will still need to review your training requirements once every year or so in order to get recertified.

These RCFE training requirements sound like a lot, but they are only necessary so that senior citizens can get the best care possible. Look into Assisted Living Education to see about completing a portion of your training online.

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How to Start a RCFE

An RCFE is a residential care facility for the elderly, also known as an assisted living facility. If you want to learn how to start a RCFE, you need to check into the legal requirements. There are specific steps you have to take in order to meet them.

To start, you need to lay the groundwork by deciding exactly what types of services you will offer patients and looking into where your facility will be located. This also includes deciding on how many beds you will have. You may want to look into possible buildings to buy or rent. Finding one may take a while, so you need to start early.

You also need to complete the required number of assisted living education training hours. This will allow you to prepare for an RCFE license. Programs from providers like Assisted Living Education also teach you important aspects of how to start a RCFE, like management, staffing, care and legal regulations. Once you complete the education requirements, you’ll need to pass a test and submit an application to secure your RCFE license.

Once you are fully licensed and have your facility, you can begin to hire staff. Again, this is highly regulated. You must have the proper amount of staff members based upon how many residents you have, and staff members may have to hold certain certifications or complete specific training. Criminal background checks are also usually required. It can take some time to get your staff together, so plan for this step.

After you have secured your RCFE license, found your facility and hired a staff, you need to go over any other legal requirements. These may include insurance, inspections and other documents you must submit to the state. Once you are up and running, you can begin to move residents in and start operating.

The process of how to start a RCFE can be lengthy, but it is rather straightforward. Because this is a highly regulated field, you will usually be given specific instructions from the state on what you must do. Using this information, you can successfully create your own RCFE.

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Helpful RCFE Online Courses

Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) and Assisted Living Facility Administrators are required to complete 40 hours of approved continuing education units every two years. You can easily complete up to half of the state requirements by enrolling in RCFE online courses. Taking classes online is a convenient method for preparing to open an RCFE business or completing your continuing education units. An array of RCFE online courses is available to meet the needs of facility owners, administrators, and the staff who specialize in residential care and assisted living programs.

Types of RCFE Courses Offered Online As an RCFE Administrator, you most likely have your hands full keeping your community thoroughly and competently staffed and maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations. Enrolling in online courses is a convenient way to ensure your staff members are current with state licensing requirements. In addition to RCFE Administrator certification training programs, other online RCFE courses cover a variety of topics, such as:

OSHA compliance training

Emergency disaster planning

RCFE license application process

RCFE operations manual writing

Dementia service operation plans

Caregiver and medication training

Credentialed professionals deserve high quality and readily accessible continuing education delivered in a way that saves time. Interactive, self-directed online courses are an ideal choice for you and your staff to keep certifications current with minimal interruptions to daily operations.

New Training for 2016 Effective January 1, 2016, the requirements for all new RCFE staff include a new 40-hour orientation training program. Before staff can work independently, they must complete 20 hours of training instruction. After that, they need to complete 20 additional hours during the first four weeks of employment. RCFE online courses are an excellent method to provide training for your staff in areas such as hospice care, elder abuse, and dementia care. Most courses include manuals with exercises and tests, self-study modules, and DVDs to enhance the learning experience.