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6 Ways RCFE Administrators Can Keep Caregiver Spirits Elevated

Estimates show that between 40-to-70% of caregivers experience significant symptoms of depression.

While there are RCFE classes to learn how to care for others, it is equally as important for administrators to learn how to help their caregivers practice self-care in order to remain positive and productive in their caregiver role.

Being a caregiver can be an emotionally fulfilling occupation. Providing personal assistance to enhance a senior’s life can bring joy to the senior and to his family knowing their loved one is being properly taken care of.

However, the job can carry with it many conflicting emotions such as fear, sadness, loneliness and underappreciation. The daily tasks of taking care of an elderly or ailing person can be very challenging. Because of the complexity of what it takes to take on the role of a caregiver, some doctors think of caregivers as “hidden patients.”

As an RCFE administrator, the best thing you can do for your staff’s physical and emotional well-being is to encourage caregivers to take time out for themselves. This helps prevent burnout and allows them to rejuvenate so that they can be the best caretaker they can be.

Warning Signs of Caregiver Burnout

How do you know if your employees are experiencing caregiver burnout?

Look for common warning signs that indicate an individual needs to make changes in order to protect their physical and emotional health:

Experiencing overwhelming anxiety
Fatigue that doesn’t improve with quality sleep
Digestive problems
Escalating unhealthy habits (i.e. smoking or drinking alcohol in excess)
Chronic backaches or headaches
A change in personality or disposition

Here is a list of 6 things you can share with employees, so they can be more positive and productive:

Take time to do something you love – Being a caregiver does not mean that you have to deprive yourself of doing things you love. Participating in activities you enjoy such as reading, taking a walk outdoors or having lunch with a friend, is essential. Self-care is vital to avoiding caretaker burnout, so find something outside of caregiving that is satisfying to you.
Don’t neglect your physical well-being – Eating healthy foods, getting enough rest, exercising regularly and limiting alcohol and tobacco use are all important for both your physical and mental well-being. Taking care of yourself physically helps your overall emotional health and allows you to better take care of others.
Express Feelings & Emotions – Keeping your emotions bottled up is not healthy. When we suppress emotions such as grief, anger and frustration it can manifest itself into physical stress in the body. Joining a support group or confiding in a friend can be helpful ways to talk about your feelings and to connect with others going through similar situations.
Practice positivity – Create a journal where you take a few minutes each day to write down some things you are thankful for or that make you happy. Whether that’s a beloved pet, a funny cartoon or a favorite song, jot down those things that boost your spirits. Then review your list when you are feeling extra stressed to boost your mood and shift your perspective.
Keep humor in your life – Laughter has more benefits than you think. Laughter creates endorphins, reduces stress, stimulates circulation and helps to increase oxygen-rich air in your body. What makes you laugh? Whether it be a movie, a book, watching a comedy, or hanging out with a fun friend, increasing humor and laughter in your day-to-day activities will benefit you greatly.
Set Boundaries – Setting realistic expectations is important for everyone, but especially for caregivers. Know your limits and give yourself permission to say “no” to activities that you do not have time for right now. Remind yourself that it’s okay to set boundaries with your time and energy as a way to focus on your own mental well-being.

How Attitude Can Make a Difference for Caregivers

The National Institute of Health (NIH) maintains that caregivers have both positive and negative responses to their role. Your goal as an administrator is to show that caregiving doesn’t have to be a burden. Caregiving is a worthy profession and can be very uplifting.

When it comes to caregiving it is important to release the need for perfection and adjust expectations to reflect reality. Being realistic about what can and cannot be controlled in a given situation is essential.

While caregivers cannot control the chronic or progressive disease of the person they are caring for, or the impact it will have on that person, they can control how they respond to the situation.

As an RCFE administrator, you can help reduce burnout and stress for employees by giving them tools to help them recognize and manage stress.

Caregiver attitude can be the biggest factor when it comes to self-care and job performance.

Here are helpful ways caregivers can keep a realistic and positive mindset:

Acknowledge your limitations
Listen to your body
Stay connected with the outside world
Learn the signs of chronic depression
Insist on getting respite care
Remain in the present

Help Caregivers to Better Help Others

Teach caregivers how to take care of themselves and remain positive. While the demands of being an RCFE Administrator are many, guiding staff through potentially overwhelming circumstances can decrease turnover and increase job satisfaction for all.

Assisted Living Education is the leading provider of RCFE certification classes, licensing, products, and services for assisted living. Our teachers are industry professionals with many years of experience that are engaging, entertaining, and highly informative. Learn more about how we help RCFE professionals.

How Much Money Can an RCFE Administrator Make?

The average salary for a certified RCFE administrator in California is more than $45,000 according to ZipRecruiter.

Becoming an RCFE administrator can provide not only a fulfilling career that makes use of your business and people skills, and helps older individuals, but it can also provide profitable annual earnings.

California licensing regulations provide a structured path to become an RCFE administrator, and generally begin with enrolling in accredited RCFE classes.

Most people have high expectations for their chosen career path. For many, an attractive salary and good benefits top the list. The majority of individuals also prioritize work where they can help others and make a difference in their lives.

Working as an RCFE Administrator is a good way to obtain those career goals.

This article will explore what it takes to become an RCFE administrator, what that career path entails, and what kind of compensation you can expect.

RCFEs Fill a Unique Niche

When deciding on a career in Residential Care, it’s important to understand what you are getting yourself into.

Facilities for the elderly provide a special solution for persons who experience limitations as they age and can no longer live by themselves.

They may have problems keeping their home clean, preparing nutritious meals or practicing daily hygiene such as taking a shower or even getting dressed.

As an RCFE professional, part of your job is understanding that these elderly individuals still value their independence and want to make as many of their own decisions as possible. While maintaining their household independently might be a challenge, they do not necessarily require constant supervision or daily medical care.

A well-managed RCFE will provide its residents with a balance of supervision, assistance, and independence. As an administrator, it will be your responsibility to ensure that balance is maintained.

Special Skill Sets Help Run a Successful RCFE

To keep a facility operating smoothly, an RCFE professional needs a vital set of skills.

Since any size RCFE is essentially a business, the administrator must have the operational and management skills required to lead it. Some of those skills include:

Creating and managing a budget for the facility
Developing marketing strategies and activities
Hire, train and supervise employees
Establish policies and procedures
Ensure the facility is meeting all state regulations and requirements
Oversee logistics such as meal plans and resident activities

At the same time, the purpose of an RCFE is to provide for the well-being of the individuals who live there. To that end, intangibles such as compassion and excellent people skills are also essential for being a successful administrator.

Every decision the administrator makes must have the safety, happiness, and welfare of their residents in mind. An RCFE administrator needs to provide personal leadership and support to not only the residents and families but also its employees.

California Tailors Requirements to Facility Size

So how exactly do you enter this career path?

In order to apply for an RCFE administrator certificate in California, the applicant must be at least 21 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED/HSED equivalent.

The next steps involve passing an 80-hour certification course, earning a 70% or better score on a 100-question exam, obtaining a Live-Scan fingerprint clearance, completing the required state forms, and submitting the application with a $100 fee.

Upon the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) approval of your application, you will obtain an Administrator Certificate that will allow you to oversee an RCFE with 1-15 residents.

If you are looking to manage a larger facility, the minimum educational requirements increase depending on the number of residents that reside in the facility.

The administrator of a facility licensed for 16-49 residents, must have completed, with a passing grade, at least 15 college or continuing education semester or equivalent quarter units and have at least one year’s experience providing residential care to the elderly; or equivalent education and experience as approved by CDSS.

To obtain certification as an administrator for an RCFE facility with 50 or more residents, the requirement increases to two years of college and three years of experience providing residential care to the elderly; or equivalent education and experience as approved by CDSS.

Most administrators start out with the minimum requirements and begin working at a small facility to gain practical, hands-on experience.

During this time, many administrators will decide if they enjoy working with a small RCFE, or if they prefer to work for a larger facility. They may even contemplate the idea of applying for an RCFE license and starting their own facility.

California has many small assisted living facilities where the owner is also the administrator. There is no wrong option here and different circumstances will suit the needs of different individuals.

Salary and Job Outlook for RCFE Administrators Primed for Growth

So now that we’ve reviewed some of the requirements to become an administrator, let’s look at salaries and opportunities.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected growth for medical and health service managers for the 10-year period from 2019-2029 should top 30%, which is much faster than the average job growth for this period.

A primary reason for this anticipated increase is the aging of the baby boomer generation and the resulting need for more care facilities, including RCFE facilities.

When it comes to compensation, the data on Glassdoor reports that the average salary for an RCFE administrator in California is around $45,000 a year.

In general, salaries for this position range from a low of $27,000 annually to a high of $130,000 or more for roles at large facilities involving greater responsibilities.

Keep in mind that starting salaries are generally adjusted according to the education and experience of the job candidate. Most large facilities also provide a bonus program structured on census retention and meeting budgetary goals.

There are many ways to increase your value as an RCFE Administrator.

An administrator can learn the ropes and gain valuable experience in meeting the challenges of a small care facility with a license to do business in California. At the same time, online learning offers the possibility of taking college credits while working to meet the requirements for certification at a larger assisted living facility.

By completing college courses and gaining practical experience, an RCFE administrator can move along on a career trajectory that enhances both job responsibilities and compensation.

RCFE Classes Jump-Start a New Career Path

Ready to get your new career started? Our RCFE Certification classes give you the knowledge and means to not only pass the California Department of Social Services test but also to succeed as a caring administrator of an assisted living facility in the real world.

We make sure you understand all the California regulations involved with an RCFE license including learning about medication responsibilities, business operations and effective marketing for assisted living facilities.

If you’re ready to take the first step toward a career as an RCFE administrator, Assisted Living Education is here to help.

7 Ways to Help Seniors Cope With Depression

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, almost 25% of adults 65 years and older have experienced some level of depression or anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When running an RCFE, there is no standard solution to depression that will work with all your residents. Caregivers need to recognize that every senior is one-of-a-kind.

Each case of elderly depression is also different. An approach that is effective with one individual may not work with the next.

This post will explore several effective ways to deal with senior depression in an RCFE setting.

Implement Strategies to Assist Seniors Dealing With Depression

Although the COVID pandemic certainly contributed to depression in elderly citizens, the easing of restrictions may not instantly make those anxious and depressed feelings go away.

Every RCFE administrator may want to put some of these suggestions into play to help their residents recover from these difficult times.

1. Adjusting Communication Skills and Activity Planning

One of the most important things you can do when someone in your care is experiencing depression is to listen. Often what an elderly individual needs most is someone to just hear them and pay attention to the feelings they are experiencing.

By listening carefully you will often hear clues to some of the causes of their anxiety and depression.

As moods start to normalize, let your residents express preferences and help plan new ventures. It’s vital for residents to feel they still have some control over their lives.

Start simple and focus on positive activities that can have a direct reflection on their mental health like exercise, nutrition or even starting a new hobby.

As Covid restrictions ease more and more, perhaps consult with a local senior center to see what group activities and social engagements are being planned.

A safe reemergence back into a social stream can quickly resume normalcy that may spark positive emotional results.

2. Foster a Positive Mental Outlook

If you are a caregiver to an empathetic resident, it can sometimes be tempting to unload your problems and/or stresses on this captive audience.

While there are times you may need or want to share personal feelings, talking about issues with your job or personal life can cause worry or increase low spirits for an already emotionally compromised senior.

As much as possible, keep conversations upbeat.

It can be something simple, such as a home repair you successfully accomplished or a new recipe that turned out well.

Don’t forget to ask your residents to also name something they recently enjoyed. This helps to direct their focus towards something positive.

3. Help Develop Purpose

None of us enjoy feeling useless or unwanted.

Seniors are no exception. They need a sense of purpose.

Brainstorm ways to target goals and objectives for your residents. Hobbies are a great start. Tying them into ways to help others also adds a big dose of purpose to the activity.

Interests and abilities may differ, but everyone likes to feel like they are making a difference.

Small examples could include installing a hummingbird feeder.

Even planting a few vegetable or flower seeds can create a sense of daily purpose and fruition as your resident watches his or her garden grow.

Encourage your residents to focus on simple projects for family members or even local charities. A senior in full control of their faculties might want to consider writing a family history or personal memoir for their children or grandchildren.

Senior care residents will often respond positively to contributing through creative efforts, utilizing their existing skills or even just volunteering their time.

4. Address Sleep Issues

Starting the day right is difficult if you’ve had a lousy night’s sleep. Working to improve your residents’ sleeping patterns and helping to overcome insomnia issues will go a long way towards helping to stabilize their moods.

You may also consider some environmental factors like eliminating caffeine after midday, omitting afternoon naps and avoiding heavy evening meals to help ensure a good night’s sleep.

5. Get Your Senior Involved With Exercise or Movement

Exercise is a great way to get endorphins flowing.

For some seniors, this can be a “slam-dunk”, but others may express that they are not interested or that they have earned the right to just “sit back and relax”.

Unfortunately, inactivity often goes hand-in-hand with sleep issues and depression. Try to encourage some activity and exercise while also taking care to address valid reasons for inactivity, such as pain or disabilities.

Solicit suggestions for appropriate exercise activities from a medical provider or physical therapist.

Many RCFE continuing education classes also provide some limited information and training in this area. For example, when dealing with seniors with limited ability, try chair exercises or a pedal device for leg movement while sitting.

6. Begin or Increase Social Activities

This looks different for every senior, depending on capabilities and personal preference, but you’ll notice that most residents will enjoy informal visits with family members or other persons who share similar interests.

For the more shy or introverted residents, start small.

Having morning coffee with a friend or neighbor, participating in a group activity or even just a FaceTime session with a family member can make a real emotional impact.

7. Keep Up With Technology

Speaking of FaceTime, seniors who learned to make use of web conferencing through services like Zoom or who used video chat apps such as FaceTime during the pandemic should continue to utilize them regularly.

Getting to stay connected, even virtually, with family and friends can be a huge morale booster to most residents.

Try to introduce tech-weary seniors to things like YouTube where they can watch how-to videos, live church services and other events they might otherwise be missing.

Technology remains a good way to interact with others and help residents stay connected to the outside world. Learning new technology also helps keep a senior’s mind stimulated.

Not only does the resident feel as if they are growing mentally, but that they’re also evolving with the ever-changing times and not just feeling like they’re a relic to the past.

Devise a Plan To Help Seniors Adjust to Post-Pandemic Life

Although many factors can contribute to depression in older adults, the fear of Covid-19, the stress of the stringent lockdowns, and just the overall impact it has had on this demographic certainly intensified the problem.

As the number of vaccinated citizens continues to increase, and the country starts to open up again, it is important for RCFE administrators and their staff to plan a smooth transition and return to normal protocols with the differing needs of elderly individuals in mind.

Even though the CDC, as well as state and local health departments, dictates many details of the gradual reopening, an RCFE administrator should still be ready to acknowledge that residents may need to adjust on their own timelines.

Part of any transition plan should include appropriate training of all caregiving staff on the signs and symptoms of depression and the appropriate ways to report and intercede. Online training is available for facilities to use to expand caregiver knowledge and meet required CDSS requirements.

Does Your RCFE Need Help With Senior Depression?

If your assisted living facility is struggling with Post-Pandemic depression issues, or even just a general loss in community morale, please don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Assisted Living Education is here to help and support you while we all journey together on the path to recovery.

4 Key Steps to Improve Your RCFE’s Online Marketing

Today, seniors and their families are initially looking for assisted living facilities online. Therefore, it is more important than ever that your assisted living facility ranks well in Google and other places that people search for assisted living facilities.

The higher you rank and the better your online reviews, the more likely that you will attract greater interest, more visitors and qualified new residents.

We knew little about online marketing when we started but wanted to summarize the basics for you here. Even if you are new to the world of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or already have some knowledge, the information in this blog will provide you with key insights that can be easily accomplished.

1 – How to Get More People to Your Website

If you are still in the early stages of setting up an assisted living facility, you first need to look into RCFE certification. While getting your RCFE certification and license, you can start the process of building your website. Look at how other facilities are listed online. Do they have a website and are they in online directories such as Yelp or Google My Business? What do you like and not like so you can inform the people building your website?

Once the site is created and is live, you can start trying to rank for keywords. In other words, you hope to find keywords that people would logically be searching for assisted living and try to get as high on the Google search results as possible, so viewers will find you.

A good search engine strategy centers on finding the keywords that people looking to find a facility in a specific town are most often searching. Essentially, you need to comprehend what terms people are likely to type into their search engine bar so your website can appear.

Most likely, the keywords would revolve around phrases like “assisted living” or “assisted living facility” or “senior assisted living” along with the city your community resides in.

For example, if your facility was in Encino, California, you’d most likely want to show up in search results when people typed in “assisted living Encino”.

The simple strategy is then to place that keyword in the text of your home page – maybe even a couple of times. That way, Google will see that keyword on your site and make the connection to the search. Thus, you’ll have a better chance of ranking higher when that phrase is searched for.

Even if you already run an established community, you can gain a lot of potential search engine ground by adding those keywords to your existing website on several of the pages that you think would best describe your facility.

2 – Claim Your Google My Business & Other Directory Listings

Many of the major search engines allow you to make a specific business listing where you can include all of your facility’s key information. Google being the largest search engine in the world is the place you want to begin.

The Google My Business listing is the most popular, most visited and simplest for you to claim. It’s easy to sign your business up and costs nothing. You simply go to Google, search “Google my business” and click on the “manage now” button.

The rest of the process will take minutes by just following the directions on each screen. Enter your business’ information along with contact details, and you will immediately have a new presence with Google My Business (GMB).

Often, these listings also automatically display a map of your location. Further enhancing your GMB presence, you can easily upload photos of your facility or your staff to personalize the listing further.

Now, when someone types in the name of your facility, this listing will be near or at the top of the results. Over time, other keywords that you have been adding to your website pages may also display this GMB page increasing your prospective clients even further.

Here is an example of Google’s local search results for “assisted living Encino”

Note how the facility with the most reviews showed up at the top of list. More about reviews below.

While Google may be the biggest directory in the world, we’d also suggest setting up similar profiles on other directories such as:

Yelp for Business

Better Business Bureau

Assisted Living Directory

Caring.com

Taking the time to get your assisted living business noticed is almost as important as the RCFE licensing process if you want to be successful.

Reading online RCFE reviews help people find the best assisted living facilities near you.

3 – Solicit Reviews From Satisfied Clients

The importance of online reviews cannot be understated.

A recent survey showed that people were 270% more likely to purchase a good or service that had at least one five-star review as compared to a company that had no reviews at all. Almost three times more likely to choose your facility just because of reviews.

Once you have set-up your directories, engage with your satisfied clients – both past and present – and ask them to please post a positive, five-star review on these places. (To make it simple for them to do, you may want to email them the request with a series of direct links to your Google My Business, Yelp and other business directory pages.)

You also want to manage the reviews – both favorable or unfavorable – in a timely fashion. This direct interaction with your audience shows you care about your quality of service and care what your customers think.

If you have any negative reviews, it is a good idea to address these directly. Offer an apology or explain the circumstances behind this complaint. Online reputation management is key to growing the word-of-mouth and credibility of your facility.

In addition, placing any positive reviews on your website in a testimonial section also helps enhance the selling of your service.

4 – Engage Visitors on Your Website

So you’ve started getting potential new clients to come to your website after seeing you rank high in search results and reading all your positive reviews. Now the goal is converting them from visitors into customers.

You want to make your site easy to comprehend with a very clear “call to action”. In other words, you should quickly and clearly make the case why your facility is the best one for mom or dad. Then get the web user to call your business or fill out a contact form.

The phone number and contact form should be present at all times on the page. Your web developer should recognize that the forms and phone should be at the top of the page in a stationary spot that doesn’t move out of the reader’s eye even if he or she scrolls down the page.

The other key to closing new leads is a lightning quick response. If a call is made after hours and a message is left, that lead should be the top priority for a recall first thing in the morning.

Similarly, when the contact form is filled out, there should be a follow-up action (preferably a phone call to the person) within minutes, even seconds. With so many search results out there for assisted living facilities, chances are the same family that reached out to you also did so to several other facilities.

In this case, it’s often a race as the first facility to contact that potential client will more often than not win the client’s business.

It is optimal to have a member of your RCFE administrator staff who can be tasked with managing and following up with interested parties right away.

Conclusion

These are just some of the basics that can seriously help improve your online marketing. It may seem intimidating at first but it gets easier once you start. If you would like to know more than I recommend you reach out to great people and the company we use for digital online marketing.

Please let us know if you found this blog helpful.

About Assisted Living Education

Assisted Living Education is the premier provider of RCFE certification, RCFE classes, licensing, products and services for assisted living. Our teachers are industry professionals with many years of experience that are engaging, entertaining and highly informative. They offer RCFE consulting services and share real RCFE experience that will help you be successful in this fast growing career industry.

Good luck!

RCFE certification required for Assisted Living

The 5 Key Strategies for Operating a Top Rated RCFE

In 2020, the average life expectancy in the United States was nearly 79 years, as compared to the life expectancy in 2000 of 77 years.

The good news is Americans are living longer, the bad news is our nation is not fully prepared for the challenge of meeting the increased needs of an aging population that will be almost 25% of the U.S. population by 2030.

This is why more Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) will be needed.

About RCFEs

The core services that an RCFE provides to people who are 60 years or older includes: safe and healthful living accommodations; personal assistance and care; observation and supervision; planned activities; food service; and arrangements for obtaining incidental medical and dental care.

Most facilities also assist with storing and distributing medications that a resident can self-administer.

This type of facility is for a person who is no longer able to live alone but does not require 24 hour skilled nursing care. RCFEs are considered a social model and skilled nursing facilities (SNF) are medical models. A RCFE is not required to have a licensed nurse on staff.

Another difference between the two different levels of care is which licensing entity they report to. RCFE’s report to the Department of Social Services (CDSS) and SNF’s report to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

So what does it take to become a RCFE owner? Find a building to own or rent and submit an RCFE License Application to CDSS. You should also take the 80 hour RCFE Administrator certification course to become the administrator who will oversee the day to day operations. If you do not want to do hands on oversight, you can hire an administrator.

So what are the 5 strategies to operate a successful RCFE?

1 – Location, Location, Location.

Do you know the area you are thinking about opening a building in? How saturated is the area with RCFE’s? Does the city have a significant senior population to support your facility?

The CDSS website, www.cdss.ca.gov, has all facilities listed by address, city or zipcode. The Census Bureau can help to identify the makeup of a given age population in a particular area. You should “secret shop” the competition. What are they doing right? How does the facility look and smell? What are the residents and staff doing while you are touring?

Families are looking for a clean, safe and engaging place to move their loved one. Is the facility close to a hospital and physician offices? How far from a freeway is the building? Have you selected a neighborhood that also has well maintained homes? Is the building clean and well lit? First impressions are everything.

2 – So What Is Your Plan?

Finding a building in the right neighborhood is really the easy part (you may not think so as you go through the process). Your lender will want to see your business plan. How much experience do you and your employees have in the area of senior care? Are you hiring an administrator with experience? What is your budget?

You will need a corporate entity, such as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) at the time you submit the license application to CDSS and a budget is included. Do you have three months of operating costs plus funds for repairs while you get started. This is a business that can not operate on a “shoestring budget”. Creating a business plan will help you to execute a successful business model.

3 – Hire the Right Staff

Hiring great employees is going to be the most problematic and stress inducing process you will experience. You will find employees, but are they Great employees?

Finding residents will not be your main problem. You may purchase a facility in which staff are already in place. Interview them, do not assume they are staying or that you want to retain them. Staff will make or break your business!

Are you going to hire an assisted living administrator? Is an administrator in place if you buy an existing RCFE? Does the staff respect the administrator? This person sets the tone of the building.

Once you own the building, speak to families and see what their concerns are. They often do not want to see the staff leave, as the staff “knows” what the residents’ needs are. Communication is the key to happy relations with the families. Family members are often your second biggest challenge.

4 – Know Your Licensing Entity

Once you submit the license application, you will get a notification that the Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) assigned to your area is going to interview you and tour the facility before the license is approved. You do not want to get on the bad side of the LPA. How do you stay in her/his good graces? You follow the regulations. It is that simple.

Provide safe and healthful care.

Train the staff properly.

Communicate when something goes wrong (you learn what those forms are in the Administrator course). All the LPA wants is that the residents are safe, eating well, have meaningful activities and they are not being abused.

Those should be the same reasons you decided to enter the Elder Care field.

5 – Market Your Services

How are you going to get a resident to move in now that you own the RCFE? The facility may have been operating for a long time and may already have a reputation in the community. Referral agents, discharge planners and social workers need to know there is a change in ownership, which might be a good thing.

Reach out to your competitors and let them know that you are the new owner and you can help each other fill those empty beds. Do not underestimate the power of networking.

Join a local assisted living association, attend conferences, and network with hospitals and doctors who provide referrals to your services.

The need for elderly care is expected to increase in the years to come. This need will require RCFEs operating under capable leadership and providing quality care at an affordable cost. If you have been considering opening an RCFE, now is a good time to execute your vision. You can begin by understanding the qualifications and receiving the appropriate training to become a certified administrator.

When you’re ready to provide the necessary care for the need that exists, learn how Assisted Living Education can prepare you for operating a successful RCFE. The satisfaction of caring for seniors in need makes the life of an RCFE owner one that will prove both rewarding and life affirming.

RCFE administrator conference, RCFE associations

The Benefits of Joining an Assisted Living Association

If you are considering opening a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), you may benefit from joining an assisted living association. Your first step to effectively own and operate an RCFE is to become an RCFE administrator, which requires an administration certification.

You also must obtain an RCFE license. You can take advantage of all the resources assisted living associations provide to RCFE administrators while also getting support as you navigate the RCFE certification process. Here are five benefits of joining an assisted living association.

1. Resources

If you’re new to the industry, there are many resources available to you as an assisted living administrator. Even if you are a seasoned professional, assisted living associations provide fantastic resources for all things industry-related.

For instance, they are often the go-to source for keeping up with regulations and laws. They also keep up with industry trends and share relevant information on everything from resident care to health care. Resources are always important, but they are especially so now in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic and RCFE’s efforts to keep residents healthy and safe.

2. Advocacy

There is strength in numbers. When you join an assisted living association, you gain a representative and an advocate. RCFE administrators and residents benefit from advocacy because it allows their voice to be heard by people making decisions that impact the industry and RCFE operations.

Assisted living association leaders must stay current on pending legislation and policy efforts. They represent you, your RCFE, and your residents to ensure any changes are as smooth and unencumbered as possible. They also communicate relevant information you need to know and act as an intermediary between RCFEs, state legislatures, and social services.

3. Professional Development

Assisted living associations are in the perfect position to coordinate and facilitate professional and workforce development. As an assisted living administrator, you require trained, skilled staff to provide the right care and services for your residents.

Assisted living associations can support you in your recruiting efforts, onboarding, and ongoing skills development. No matter whether you’re in the first year of your RCFE career or your 20th, ongoing professional development is necessary. Your membership in an association allows you to engage in numerous training and ongoing education opportunities.

4. Events

Assisted living associations commonly host annual conferences and other sessions that allow you to immerse yourself in educational events, industry news, and trends. When you attend events, you can hear from industry leaders, guest speakers, and others in the field.

Leave the event and return to your RCFE refreshed and full of new ideas and insights. Conferences and other events allow you to take the information you receive and practically apply them immediately. Events can also include trade shows, opportunities for recognition and awards, and the option to gain continuing education credits.

5. Networking

When you join an assisted living association, you get to network with others in the industry. Networking is vital; it allows you to be seen, connect with people in your field, share and learn best practices, trouble-shoot, recruit and seek new job opportunities. In a world where things change rapidly, it is nice to have access to industry peers where you can bounce ideas, learn, mentor, and connect over common ground.

If you’re an RCFE administrator, you will benefit from joining an assisted living association. Associations offer many benefits, including resources, advocacy, professional development opportunities, events, education, and networking.

As an association member, you join a community of like-minded individuals and industry leaders dedicated to supporting one another, sharing ideas, answering questions, and performing at a high-level. Stay informed on industry trends, ahead of the curve on regulations and pending legislation, and operating at optimal performance.

As an assisted living administrator, you are responsible for ensuring your RCFE maximizes its operations and services. The best way to achieve this goal is to become a member of an assisted living association. The leading California association is the California Assisted Living Association (CALA).

Assisted Living Education is the leading provider of RCFE certification classes, licensing, products and services for assisted living. Our teachers are industry professionals with many years of experience that are engaging, entertaining and highly informative.

We always welcome your feedback, and if you have other important terms you would like added to the list, please let us know. Assisted Living Education is a recognized leader in the industry, and our instructors have years of professional RCFE experience that will help ensure your success in this burgeoning industry.

RCFE Staffing Requirements Overview

In California, one option for seniors 60 years or older requiring long term care is a “social model” that provides room, meals, personal care assistance, supervision, observation, housekeeping and planned activities. A Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) can care for one or more persons and must be licensed by the State of California to provide care services.

RCFEs operate as a bridge for those who require some level of assistance that prevents them from living on their own but who do not require 24-hour medical care, service, or supervision.

RCFE’s vary in size but there are basically two models: 16+ residents or 1-15 residents. The 16+ are owned or operated by Sunrise, Brookdale and Atria to name a few. The 1-15 model is typically a home in a residential area and often called a “board and care”. Unlike nursing homes, RCFEs may have licensed professionals as personnel, but it is not required to do so.

RCFE Administrator Certification and Licensing

The administrator is responsible for the care and supervision of residents, staff management, and adhering to regulations, policies and procedures. Regulations require the administrator to complete an 80-hour certification course and pass a 100 question state examination with a score of 70% or better to receive a certificate.

The administrator must complete 40 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) every two years. Fortunately, Assisted Living Education (ALE) is one of 15 vendors that provide RCFE administrator certification classes. Additionally, the RCFE itself must be licensed. The process involves completing an RCFE license application, which ALE offers assistance with your RCFE application and licensing. An RCFE license is renewed annually and must be inspected by DSS yearly.

RCFE Staff Requirements

California laws require RCFE’s to ensure that the community has “sufficient staff at all times and competent to provide the services necessary to meet resident needs.” There is no detailed requirement of how a community is to interpret this regulation.

The resident care needs indicate how many staff are required to render care. The communities with 1-15 residents usually have two to three caregivers during the day and one caregiver at night. There are no resident ratios. The administrator or a qualified designated substitute must be on-site 24 hours a day.

California regulations require the following:

Employees who provide direct care to the residents and employees who supervise employees must be 18 years or older.
The administrator must be 21 years or older.
The administrator must have a high school diploma or GED for 1-15 residents; 15 college units and one year of experience for 16-49 residents; 2 years of college and three years experience for a community with 50 or more residents.
At least one staff member must be CPR certified and on the premises 24 hours per day.
Any personnel who provide care to the residents must have first-aid certification.
All personnel and some volunteers must have a Criminal Record Clearance before employment approval.
All personnel must have a health screen and negative TB test.
Additional staff shall be employed as necessary to perform office work, cooking, house cleaning, laundering, and maintenance of buildings, equipment and grounds.

RCFE Staff Training Requirements

All personnel assisting residents with ADL’s must complete 20 hours of initial training prior to assisting a resident and an additional 20 hours of training within the first four weeks of employment.

The topics include: the aging process; personal care; physical limitation; ADL’s; resident rights; medication policies and procedures; psychosocial needs of the elderly; recognizing signs and symptoms of dementia; 12 hours of dementia training; postural supports; hospice care; restricted health conditions; LGBT; elder and dependent adult abuse reporting; theft and loss; disaster training; food service and safety; and care of a bedridden resident.

Staff are also taught required subjects by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) that includes universal precautions, Hepatitis B, bloodborne pathogens, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and Safety Data Sheets (MDS).

All staff assisting residents with self-administration of medications must receive 10 hours of training for 1-15 residents and 24 hours for 16 or more residents and all communities must provide an additional 8 hours training each year.

ALE provides online training for employees that allows the employee to progress at his/her pace. The following link will provide information about ALE’s training products for staff training.

RCFE Policies and Procedures

Once the facility is licensed, RCFEs are required to have a Plan of Operation that includes: policies and procedures for admissions; staffing plan, qualifications and duties; plan for training staff; organizational chart; sketches of the floorplan and the yard; policy for family visits and communication. ALE has created an assisted living policies and procedures manual.

The topics covered here provide you a high-level overview of RCFE staffing requirements in California along with links to helpful resources. Thank you for the essential care RCFE’s deliver to the aging community, and we hope the information here will help you continue to achieve that goal.

The Benefits of Senior Living During the Covid-19 Crisis

Senior living will always play an important role in the healthcare process of aging adults and despite some unflattering media attention, most Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) are actually doing well with the Covid-19 crisis. Many have been able to keep their facilities COVID-19 free, providing their residents with a safe and secure home, while the country works hard towards long term solutions to this pandemic.

Even with a COVID-19 free environment, this does not change the fact that the conversation in regard to bringing on new residents has started to evolve. To help ensure that your facility is ready for this change and some of the questions that will follow, we at Assisted Living Education (ALE) have put together some information that can help guide your teams as society begins to move forward.

National Voice For A Change of Narrative

While it is true that some Assisted Living Facilities across the country have been impacted, most facilities have quickly adapted to the safety guidelines and have continued to provide excellent care with very low risk to their residents. Communities with a negative COVID-19 population are often overlooked because this fact is not as newsworthy. To illustrate this, Seniors Better Together, a Seattle-based cooperative, has launched a national marketing campaign. Their intention is to communicate the safety and benefits of elderly care and assisted living facilities during this time. Here at ALE we are supportive of these industry voices and feel that a proper communication strategy is important to the success of any well managed RCFE.

Utilizing a Positive Messaging Strategy

Like many RCFE administrators, you are probably in the process of updating your marketing materials to address the current reality of things. Through this process of communicating the safety, efficacy, and benefits of senior living during the pandemic is more crucial than ever, so we’ve put together some high level takeaways for you here.

1. Senior Living Communities Are Safe

Safety is the most important message to communicate effectively and compellingly right now. Let the public know that you follow the Centers for Disease Control’s guidance and incorporate best practices into your procedures related to COVID-19. Another safety aspect to include is visitor limitation, sanitization, virus specific training and specific protocols you have in place to ensure the safety of your residents. Finally, assure prospective clients that you have ample long-term supplies of PPE and other supplies that may be reduced in quantity to the regular public.

2. Elderly Care Facilities Promote Safe Socialization

Seniors sometimes battle loneliness and feelings of isolation, especially during periods of quarantine that come along with a pandemic. In residential living, there are opportunities for safe socializing and community living. Teams take all the necessary precautions to sanitize and effectively mitigate the risk that comes with community living, while also allowing opportunities to be active and engaged. Since isolation is linked to adverse mental health outcomes, especially for the elderly, sharing your strategies on interpersonal communication and engagement help both new and existing residents feel more comfortable.

3. Trained Medical Professionals Oversee Medical Safety

There is always some level of risk for COVID-19, but with the proper precautions and oversight, that risk can be mitigated. When using on-site medical professionals, residents can be seen, diagnosed, and treated more quickly and with less exposure than when traveling to see a primary care physician. This results in more active monitoring and faster treatment. Medical teams and residential staff are also better equipped to sanitize and execute CDC policies that protect the most vulnerable population. The end result is improved quality of care with less risk to exposure.

4. Care Facilities Allow for Exercise and Physical Activities

Physical activity among the elderly is directly related to mental and emotional health. In assisted living communities, clients can choose to participate in a variety of exercise programs such as stretch daily, walks, virtual and non-virtual activities. A senior living at home may not feel a need to exercise or does not have someone to motivate them to get up and move. It is important to explain to prospective residents the importance of staying active even while faced with the obstacles of social distancing and how important that is to their wellbeing.

5. Families Can Focus on Relationships as Opposed to Care

When an aging family member moves into an assisted living community, the adult children are often relieved that there is now a partner to assist their loved one. Many families experience a loss or reversal of their roles within the family unit. Relationships might be strained, as many adults do not want their children telling them what to do. Many families find that by letting go of the care aspect of providing for their loved one, they can shift and realign themselves with their loved one’s Providing care, supervision and observation gives many families peace of mind, making residential facilities one of the best options for their relationship that need full time care. As an added benefit these communities provide an environment for parents and children to interact in a more meaningful way that may reduce family tensions.

Senior Living Is Still a Safe and Viable Option

Information about COVID-19 changes rapidly, and all senior living communities should be dedicated to staying informed. Understanding and taking ownership of the information being used in your marketing and communications is key in this process. The process ensures that prospective residents and their families have the most relevant information available to them so they can make the best decisions possible. When managed correctly with proper safety precautions, RCFEs are still among the best solutions for providing a high level of care, comfort, and most importantly safety to those that need it the most.

If you or your RCFE is looking for guidance during this difficult time please don’t hesitate to reach out to Assisted Living Education. We are here to help and support our clients and their businesses.

Coronavirus Management for Residential Care Facilities

The close-quarters spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in residential care facilities poses a significant health threat to the vulnerable senior population, and the time to take action is now. RCFE Administrators and licensees in California and beyond are being encouraged by the CDC and Departments of Social Services to have a plan in place in the event of an outbreak in their community. Assisted Living Education is here to assist you in managing your RCFE and staying informed.

Thus far there have been 22 deaths from coronavirus in the United States, with a total of 154 cases confirmed nationwide. California reported its first death recently following a growing outbreak in the Bay Area, but it’s Washington state that has been hit the hardest, with the ten remaining U.S. deaths all happening in and around Seattle.

By now, you’ve no doubt heard about the ongoing emergency at Life Care Center in Kirkland, WA, the nursing home that now serves as an example of what we should all be trying to prevent: an unchecked outbreak on its premises is to blame for five deaths seen thus far.

While the global mortality rate is 3.4% (WHO, March 2), among seniors and those with underlying medical conditions the fatality rate appears quite a bit higher — about 14%. Comparatively, the mortality rate of the seasonal flu is typically about 0.1% in the U.S. The reality is that it’s difficult to fully ascertain the morbidity and mortality of coronavirus. Experts suspect that the actual number of cases in the U.S. could be in the thousands, but since many people who contract the virus experience milder symptoms similar to those of other respiratory illnesses (e.g. the common cold) — they don’t isolate themselves and continue on with their daily lives. As a result, transmission rates could be much, much higher.

Per a CDC fact-sheet about how coronavirus is spread, here’s what you should know:

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person [and] between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).

[It is spread] through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest), [but] some spread might be possible before people show symptoms.
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

Considering these facts, the danger of COVID-19 spreading unnoticed through our communities is something we should all be concerned about, but for residential care facilities it presents a clear and present danger. The tragic situation in that Washington nursing home should serve as a wake-up call for every RCFE Administrator and licensee. There is no time to delay.

So what should senior care facilities be doing to manage the spread of coronavirus among their residents? Here’s what the California Department of Social Services and the Centers for Disease Control suggest:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a healthcare facility).
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

For more specific information on how a long term care facility (LTCF) can minimize it’s risk of a coronavirus outbreak, the CDC has resources for healthcare facilities to help licensees build a more specific action plan.

There is a lot we do not yet know about COVID-19, and every day brings new details about the virus, it’s spread, and the risk we might face going forward. It’s not a situation that calls for an alarmist reponse — few situations do — but it is a reality that we need to prepare for. As it stands, a vaccine for the novel coronavirus is still at least a year out, and just this week China announced that it had isolated two different strains of the virus. Meaning, it’s likely going to be a while until we are all out of the woods.

For Residential Care Facilities for the Eldery, that means taking preventative measures now to ensure they can safely manage a potential outbreak among their residents. We have a long road ahead of us, and lives are at stake.

If your facility needs assistance with formulating an action plan please do not hesitate to reach out to us for help. We offer an online infection control course as well. Here at Assisted Living Education it is our core value to empower our students to care for the elderly in the most responsible and compassionate ways possible. This includes protecting them from threats like the coronavirus to the best of our ability. Together we can make a difference and help prevent further tragedy.

Assisted Living Education is the premier provider of RCFE classes, licensing, products and services for assisted living. Our teachers are industry professionals with many years of experience that are engaging, entertaining and highly informative. They offer RCFE consulting services and share real RCFE experience that will help you be successful in this fast growing career industry.

The 7 Do’s And Don’ts Of Hiring for an RCFE

Starting your first Resident Care Facility or RCFE can be exciting, fulfilling, and daunting all at the same time. Between securing a location and getting your certifications it can be easy to overlook the basics — the essential aspects that will help ensure your RCFE is a success.

Over the years we have worked with hundreds of newly minted RCFE administrators to make sure their facilities, policies, and business strategies are setting them and their residents up for the best possible experience. In that time, we’ve learned a thing or two, particularly about what you should and shouldn’t do when hiring your staff. After all, your employees are the backbone of your RCFE!

Here are the 7 Do’s and Don’ts of hiring staff for a residential care facility for the elderly.

Don’ts:

1. Warm body hiring: hiring in desperation.

It’s one of the biggest mistakes an RCFE administrator can make. In your desperation to put together a staff, you might think that any warm body will do.

Trust us, it won’t! It is completely okay to be patient and take your time to build your ideal team. After all, these are the people you’re going to be working with day in and day out, and they’re the employees you are going to rely on to care for your residents.

You want to make sure they’re not only qualified in skill, knowledge, temperament (a big one!), and experience but that they also have the capacity to grow into a larger role. Hiring anyone with a pulse out of desperation to fill the role is the perfect way to open yourself up to lawsuits.

Remember that in the health and senior care industries, you aren’t just hiring an employee: you’re potentially hiring a liability. That’s a whole lot of trust to place on the first person to walk through the door… who you now have to spend time (and money!) training and fingerprinting.

2. Only interviewing one person.

She’s the first person in for an interview, and you think she’s perfect. She’s warm, she’s qualified, she’s great with the residents, and she has experience to boot. There’s no two ways about it: she is your dream candidate, so much so that you’re tempted to hire her on the spot.

This scenario is nothing new. It happens all the time in companies across the nation (and the world), but there are a few problems with only interviewing one person.

Think about it, what are you doing when you interview someone? You’re gathering information. Additional candidates mean more of this information, and thus more context. By allowing yourself the benefit of comparing a wider field of candidates, you’ll be able to make the most qualified choice.

In interviewing a bunch of people, you might also discover that you didn’t actually know what you wanted. It’s a surprising but true phenomenon and the reason why you often see job postings with a seemingly endless list of impossible-to-meet criteria (another big no-no).

Hiring managers just aren’t sure what they’re looking for. If you’ve ever gone on a date and found yourself struck by someone totally not your type, you’ve seen this phenomenon in action. It’s human nature. We don’t always know, much as we think we do.

The same can be said for job candidates, though. Hiring is a two-way street. As much as you are interviewing them, they are also interviewing you. That perfect candidate you’re crazy about might have multiple offers, and end up going somewhere else.

3. Not having updated job descriptions/responsibilities when interviewing a candidate.

The phenomenon continues! How often have you heard about a company deciding to “go a different direction?” In many places, this can be code for “the job we were originally hiring for has now evolved into something totally different.”

Frequently this takes candidates by surprise and can be super frustrating when everything is in flux — especially for candidates who appeared to be a shoe-in during the interview stage.

It’s understandable that things change, but if you’re trying to find the right candidate for XYZ open position, you need to know what that role will entail. How will interviewing applicants know what responsibilities they will have if YOU don’t even know?

4. Not asking the same questions of each candidate to gauge their answers.

This harkens back to what we said about comparisons in Don’t #2. In every interview you do for a given role, it’s important to have at least a certain number of questions that you ask consistently. By comparing and contrasting your candidate’s answers, you have a standardized way of judging who is the best fit.

This doesn’t mean that every interview needs to follow the same script — the best interviews are more like conversations than question and answer sessions.

Think about how awkward and stilted those Q&As are. Some people are great at interviews, but for most people, they are incredibly stressful. (Who hasn’t completely blanked on even the simplest question?) Allowing some room for deviation (and personality) is a great way to put a candidate at ease, and allow them to give you their best answers. But even as the conversation evolves, always bring it back to your standard.

Do’s:

1. Introducing them to residents to see how they interact.

Your residents are the people they’re going to be caring for every day! It’s important to see how your candidates respond to them. If they are aloof, that tells you a lot about their attitude and how they might be as an employee. You want someone who engages with the residents, talks to them, and is open to hearing their concerns. Someone who is dismissive or disrespectful of the seniors in your care has no business being part of your RCFE staff. Understand the qualities that make a good assisted living administrator.

2. Analyzing the 3 C’s: commitment, caring and culture.

You can’t work at a residential care facility for the elderly if you’re not a team player. Your staff is going to be working closely with one another day in and day out, so it’s important that they make a good fit for the culture.

This doesn’t mean that every employee has to be BFFs, but they should be able to work together to get their jobs done. If they can’t put caring for your residents ahead of any interpersonal issues, productivity is going to suffer, and you run the risk of accidental negligence. Make sure you communicate your facility’s culture to prospective hires.

These attitudes also go towards commitment (or lack thereof). You want someone who doesn’t just show up for work, but who actually shows up for work — someone for who this isn’t just a paycheck. Working at an RCFE doesn’t have to be their life’s calling, but it has to be something they’re committed to.

The well-being of your residents depends on it! To put it simply, if they don’t care, how will they be able to care? Do they care about seniors, and want to do what’s right by them, or is this just going to be a job for them?

3. Remind them of the qualifications of the job.

We’re not just talking about responsibilities here. There’s more to qualifications than having the experience or abilities to perform the duties adequately (with or without reasonable accommodation).

DSS regulations require staff, persons residing in the facility, and most volunteers to have a criminal background clearance (or exemption) prior to their first day of work. This means that they will need to be electronically fingerprinted, at which point the California DOJ will conduct a background check.

If the candidate has a criminal history, that won’t necessarily disqualify them. California’s Caregiver Background Check Bureau will review the transcript and decide if the conviction(s) were for crimes that may be exempted. Candidates with non-exemptible convictions will not be eligible to work in your care facility.

The employee will also need to go to a local healthcare clinic (this is something you can arrange) for a health screening to verify their general well-being, and to demonstrate that their current health condition allows them to perform the type of work required. At the clinic, the physician will fill out and sign LIC 503, the health screening report for facility personnel. As a portion of their health screening, employees will also have test negative for TB.

Are you ready?

The process of successfully opening and staffing an RCFE in California might be a long one, but in the end, it will all be worth it. The senior care industry is among the fastest-growing industries in the country, and California is no different. We must be prepared to meet the needs of seniors with the best care possible. More growth means more new facilities, and more new facilities mean hiring the best employees.

The need is there. Are you ready to provide it?

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