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What Are the Core Values and Ethics of the Staff at an Assisted Living Facility?
One of the most common questions we’re asked when families contact us about Garden Hill Assisted Living has to do with our staff. People want to know what training they have, of course, but their biggest concern is how the staff will interact with their loved ones.
That’s a question that’s worth asking. The quality of a facility’s staff – and the rules and values that govern their behavior – can tell you a lot about what your loved one’s experience will be like. While that might sound like common sense, there’s also a theoretical basis for considering the quality of care. Studies have shown that there’s a direct relationship between residents’ quality of life and the consistency of the care they receive.
With that in mind, we want to share the core values and ethics that govern the care we provide to our residents every day. Our goal, always, is to create a home-like environment where residents are well cared-for and happy.
Governing Principles
Our governing principles are the overall ethics we use to train our staff and provide care to our residents. They exist so that both staff and residents know what to expect – and so we can monitor the care we provide and improve whenever necessary.
Here are the things that are included in our governing principles:
- Treating all residents with the dignity and respect
- Adhering to a high standard of professional excellence
- Behaving with grace, competency, efficiency, and gentleness
- Ensuring that the care we provide is safe, practical, and compassionate
- Practicing ethical behavior every day
- Creating an atmosphere of love, kindness, and joy
We included these six things in our governing principles because they describe how we want to behave and how we want our residents to feel. We recognize that our behavior has a direct impact on the quality of life for our residents and that’s what guides us when we come to work each day.
Decision-Making
When we provide care to our residents, we are often called upon to make decisions about the care they need. Any decision we make must consider factors that affect the resident’s health and comfort.
That’s why we provide our staff members with a framework to use when making decisions. They must consider the resident’s safety, cleanliness, and overall well-being. We also encourage our staff to put themselves into the resident’s shoes and assess their needs through a compassionate perspective. Here are some of the things we consider:
- Does the resident have water or a snack within easy reach if they feel hungry or thirsty?
- If the resident uses a walker or cane, is it within reach of them at all times?
- Can the resident reach a call button or light in case of an emergency?
We recognize that maintaining some degree of autonomy is important to our residents. They may need our assistance at times – and we want to make sure that we’re there to provide it – but we also want to remember that being able to comfortably and safely help themselves can make a big difference in residents’ self-esteem and dignity.
Standards of Care
While we encourage residents to do what they can to take care of themselves, we are here to provide assistance at the level that’s appropriate to each resident’s needs. We are also committed to holding ourselves to the highest possible standard of ethical behavior. That means that we:
- Are in compliance with governing laws and applicable legal requirements regarding patient care;
- Act in consideration for the resident and their needs regarding their comfort, hygiene, nourishment, activity, rest, communication, mobility, and surroundings, always adhering to a high standard of excellence;
- Respect that our facility is also the resident’s home and should be treated as such on behalf of the residents and their families;
- Attend to the resident’s comfort and needs as required;
- Treat all residents with the grace, competency, and gentleness they need and deserve.
We understand that care isn’t just about meeting our residents’ physical needs. We work hard to ensure that all staff members treat our residents with respect and kindness, therefore meeting their emotional needs as well.
The Resident Experience
Above all, our goal is to provide our staff with the training and guidance they need to adhere to the high standards of excellence we maintain. Training is an ongoing experience and the governing rules we put in place are designed to ensure that our residents’ have the best experience possible.
Training our staff ensures that they have the skills, knowledge, and ability to provide proper care every day. Caring for our residents isn’t just about understanding their needs. We expect our staff to provide care with wisdom, safety, and practicality – combined with compassion for the residents and their needs.
Moving to an assisted living facility can be difficult emotionally and mentally. It’s essential to provide residents with sound, competent, and loving care to help them avoid depression and cognitive decline. We find that treating our residents with respect, dignity, and reverence is an important piece of the puzzle. We think of it as acting with grace – and understanding that residents deserve our discretion and confidentiality is as important as the quality of the care we provide.
Conclusion
The ethical standards we provide our staff embrace every aspect of the care we provide at Garden Hill Assisted Living. If we could sum up what governs our treatment of residents in one word, we’d choose Love. Love leads us to care for each resident with dignity, respect, and kindness – and it allows us to meet the individual resident’s needs with a standard of excellence and compassion.
We pride ourselves on providing the highest possible quality of care in an environment that feels like home. That’s the most important thing we can do to ensure that our residents get what they need.
To learn more about Garden Hill Assisted Living and the programs and care we provide, please click here.
Can I Expect Individualized Care For My Parent?
A facility that has a collaborative atmosphere and involves the family members is an important indication that the facility is looking beyond basic, generic care needs to individualizing care.
Individual needs may include:
- Dietary needs: The facility should be able to handle any dietary specification necessary.
- Physical needs: This includes assistance with personal hygiene or grooming. Some residents may need regular assistance with physical care while others require only occasional assistance.
- Emotional needs: This includes companionship and socialization. An excellent assisted living facility will encourage residents to be part of daily meals and activities, so they are not isolated.
Residents require love and attention and the facility you choose should be able to provide it.
The primary idea to remember is that you want a facility that tailors its care to each patient’s needs. A cookie-cutter approach is not effective or beneficial to residents. Meeting the individualized needs of each resident is possible when done through an effective approach of having each resident’s care a priority.
Staff and Staff Teamwork
One of the biggest concerns family members have about moving their loved ones to an assisted living facility is knowing how they will be treated by the staff. When you visit, pay special attention to how staff members interact with you and your loved one. helped? Are staff engaged with the residents?
Activities
Any facility you consider should work hard to ensure that residents lead interesting, fulfilling lives. You want to ensure that the facility you choose provides enriching activities for its residents to take part in. Here are some things to look for. The facility takes residents’ past interests and abilities into consideration and works to provide them with ways to continue those pursuits. Activities should encourage residents to use their bodies and minds. As we age, we all need mental and physical stimulation to be healthy.
Conclusion
Choosing the right assisted living facility for your loved one will ensure that they get the care and attention they need. You’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that they are properly cared for – and that they live in a place that provides them with the home-like environment they deserve.