5 Responsibilities of a Certified Care Specialist in Assisted Living
If you or a loved one lives in an assisted living community, supportive care is tantamount to quality of life. Senior living communities are designed to support the needs of their guests while providing necessary care, which is why a certified care specialist is an integral member of the team. They help shape a resident’s experience as well as quality of life.
A certified care specialist’s daily responsibilities include assisting with activities of daily living as well as patient care activities. Below details five of the important roles a care specialist fills to ensure each resident has the retirement they deserve.
1. Assist With Activities of Daily Living
One of the primary responsibilities of a certified care specialist is to bathe residents by multiple methods, followed by dressing and maintaining the grooming and hygiene of each resident. Bathing methods depend on the level of care needed and can include bathing in a tub or whirlpool, a shower, or a bed bath. A resident can receive help with washing, shampooing, rinsing, drying, and moisturizing.
Proper grooming and hygiene are also provided by a care specialist. Once they have been helped with dressing, your loved one can also expect to receive nail care, oral hygiene, assistance with brushing and shaving, as well as care that minimizes the risk of skin breakdown through attentive hygiene.
A resident may also require help with feeding, and each senior will have different needs. A certified care specialist will safely aid with feeding residents while following each individual’s prescribed feeding protocols. They will monitor and record their intake as well as any changes.
2. Perform Housekeeping Duties
Another important responsibility of a care specialist is maintaining a sanitary and comfortable living space for each resident. This includes making each bed, immediately cleaning up after incontinence or injury, and promptly communicating with maintenance and housekeeping to ensure any necessary repairs or improvement to less than sanitary conditions.
3. Monitor and Record Vitals and Behavior
Health and safety are priorities. For this reason, care specialists closely measure, record, and report intake and output, as well as vital signs such as temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. They are also trained to recognize any changes through careful and accurate observation. Any unusual observations or changes from the norm are reported.
4. Aid in Mobility
In addition to maintaining safety, certified care specialists are responsible for safely lifting, moving, transferring, and positioning residents in their beds or wheelchairs. They provide assistance with proper positioning in such a way that minimizes the risk of skin breakdown and prevents injury. Losing mobility can be difficult to cope with. Care specialists work to give you the freedom you desire without compromising safety.
5. Promote Positive Experiences
Perhaps the cornerstone of good care is providing a positive experience for residents, encouraging them to engage in socialization and activities that enrich their lives. A care specialist will partner with your loved one, engaging them in positive activities and community. A source of calm and positive energy, a care specialist will make the community feel like home.
When choosing a home for the next stage in life, or a future career in care services, consider BridgeWater Assisted Living. We specialize in providing affordable care with unmatched levels of service and care for our residents. Contact us today and be a part of personal care that empowers everyone to retire with dignity.