LTC Personnel

Nursing care facilities provide the services of a variety of full-time and consultant staff specialists. The numbers and types of personnel reflect the needs of the patients.

In nursing care facilities, 24-hour nursing coverage is provided by licensed nurses.

When you tour a facility, look to see if the nursing staff is interacting with patient, answering call signals quickly and talking with the patients. If special treatments or nursing measures are needed, ask if they will be available.

Activities are provided in all facilities. Ask to speak with the activity coordinator and find out what types of individual and group activities are sponsored. Ask whether social services are provided by the facility staff or through an outside agency.

The dietary department is under the direction of a food service supervisor.

Other specialists are on staff or available on a consultant basis; a registered dietician, physical therapists, occupational therapists, therapeutic recreators, psychiatric personnel, a medical director, consultant pharmacists, podiatrists and dentists.

The overall management of the facility is the responsibility of a licensed nursing home administrator.

Most important, be sure that the people who care for the residents are kind. People providing services to people is what nursing home care is all about.