How Care Facilities Assist Dementia Patients

The latest statistics show that over 5.7 million people in the United States suffer from dementia. This cognitive decline condition can leave elderly individuals or those with a diagnosis needing special attention and care. Any facility or RCFE that offers memory care requires highly trained staff knowledgeable about the condition to provide their residents with dignity and respect in a safe and supportive environment.

Creating a Safe Space

Those who deal with dementia have unique needs. The living environment needs to be calm and quiet, using soft music, gentle scents and adequate natural lighting to keep residents stimulated. All common areas for the residents should be easily identifiable, using both signs and corresponding pictures to help with recognition. The common areas and living quarters are also designed to where staff can easily observe the residents, and facilities are equipped with a wander alert system and exit delays to reduce the likelihood of a resident leaving the facility.


Creating a Supportive Care System

There are different stages of dementia, and an RCFE should have a plan in place to address the changing needs of residents. Facilities often plan activities throughout the day to encourage cognitive exercise and socialization. Even the way the facility plans the menu should incorporate the changing abilities of individuals. Finger foods and brightly colored components make it easier for residents to feed themselves, as a supportive system encourages an individual to assume as much responsibility and independence as they can. The confusion that is caused by dementia required the RCFE to oversee the distribution of medications to residents and to continually watch for the progression of the condition or other health concerns. Bathing, dressing and hygiene needs are often a part of a supportive care system for residents with dementia.


Attending to individuals with dementia can be challenging, so training and support for caregivers are vital to ensuring that the residents of extended care or assisted living facility are well-taken care of. Fortunately, state guidelines and inspections help protect patient’s rights and ensure the quality of care.

Getting Your RCFE Administrator Certification Increases Your Earning Potential

Do you have an RCFE Certification? Well, if you do and you’ve worked in the sector for a while, you might want to consider an upgrade. That’s right, upping your value and increasing your earning potential. By how much, you ask? Not quite, but almost double the amount a regular RCFE certification holder makes. Yep, on average RCFE Administrator Certification will boost your annual salary to nearly $120,000 per year. Are you beginning to see why it behooves you to take your life and career to the next level?

If you already have your RCFE Certification and have a few years of experience, then it’s only a hop skip and a jump to get your RCFE Administrator Certification. And, boy, won’t that look good on a resume? You’ll have put yourself in a whole new category. Instantly put your resume at the top of the pile. In California, we constantly see new residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE) opening. Each one needs an administrator and the medium and large ones need an assistant RCFE administrator, some very large facilities might need two.


What Does It Take to Become a California Certified Administrator?
Well, you’ll need to take some state certified classes, and some training too. Some of it can be online. There is a total of 80-hours required. There is a lot to know, and it is best to find a top-rated school to attend, one, that can answer all your questions and you will have many. The RCFE Administrator Certification is highly coveted in our industry, once you have it, a world of opportunity opens and a future salary commanding well over six-figures could be yours.

If you’d like to go on Indeed dot com and check out the job listings you will be amazed. There is a good chance you will see job listings in your area. If you already work in such a facility, this certification may be all you need to move up the ladder in your career. Once you pass all the requirements, you can start working as an assistant RCFE Administrator which will give you your first big pay raise.
Not everyone is cut out to run a residential care facility for the elderly, but if you think you are, then you need to get these requirements completed so you can move up in the world. You owe to yourself, your family, and most of all to your future. It’s time to make a move. Be great.

What is an RCFE License and Why Should I Care?

RCFE stands for Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. RCFE is a special certification in the State of California. These facilities are also called board and care facilities. While other states have followed suit in developing similar licenses and certifications, California’s certification is somewhat unique. Having a certification in another state will not suffice in CA, and CA certifications in this category are not always recognized by other states.

What makes a Residential Care Facility for the elderly different than a typical nursing home? Well, nursing homes have nurses on staff and can medicate and provide some medical care, whereas residential care facilities or board and care facilities do not. RCFEs help with activities of daily living (ADLs). Things like bathing, grooming, dressing, and food. They may also help with some medical services under special care plans and may advise the elderly when to take medications, but do not administer them.

Why is all this important? Simple. Because there have been unfortunate cases of elder abuse, poorly maintained board and care facilities, theft, fraud, and neglect resulting in deaths in the past. To prevent this from happening the State of California has taken action after advocacy groups lobbied the California Legislature in Sacramento to do something about it.

Their remedy was to make sure all the RCFEs were registered, certified and licensed, and to make sure those in charge of the facilities were certified along with those working there. Things have changed drastically since. Noncompliant board and care facilities are warned and if not brought into compliance - closed for good, literally for the good! The good of the elderly as well as the families and insurance companies paying the costs.

Is it hard to stay in compliance? Not really once you know the rules, hire the right people, and have all the certifications. If the facility is not kept up to par with the required standards for paperwork, cleanliness, or if there are complaints resulting in citations or notifications the California regulators can be quite severe in their adherence to the rules and laws set forth.

This is why everyone working there needs to be trained properly and educated on the rules and laws. They must also get RCFE Certification. All of this is required to operate a board and care facility or RCFE. This is being done to ensure the safety, quality of life, and well-being of our elderly seniors and to protect the families who are footing the bill, the consumers.

Residential Care Facility Administrators Needed

If you’re fairly certain you want to become a professional administrator and you also enjoy working with older adults, you might want to consider beginning your career at a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly, otherwise known as RCFE. These are certified assisted living homes within California. Due to the growing population of Californians aged 65 and over, there is a high demand for qualified staff to help run these facilities. So if you're good at paying attention to details, keeping good records, and have a passion for elder care you might want to explore the option of becoming a RCFE administrator.

Requirements
Anyone who’s at least 21 years of age and has a high school diploma or GED can become certified to work as a RCFE admin professional. There are a total of 80 hours of classes that are required. After completing all of the necessary coursework, you will need to take a State of California examination and pass with at least 70%. If you meet all of these requirements you can submit your application and fee to the state and your certificate will be mailed to you.

Responsibilities

A RCFE administrator is responsible for managing the administrative components of residential assisted living facilities. They need to hire, train, and supervise staff. They are usually responsible for managing budgets and possibly writing grants. Administrative staff need to be great at keeping records and ensuring that all necessary permits and licenses are valid and on file. They may also make presentations to community groups and/or to a board of directors.

Training

Ongoing training is important in this line of work. You will be required to complete 40 hours of continuing education classes on an annual basis in order to keep your certification. This is important because regulations can change from year to year and you will need to keep informed about any new legal requirements for your facility.

How To Become a California Assisted Living Administrator

Assisted-living care is a 24-hour model for elder residents not needing extensive medical care. If you are interested in managing a California residential care facility for elders you will need an RCFE certification that covers the range of services offered by residential facilities.

What RCFE Services Include
RCFEs, or assisted living facilities, are social housing complexes organized around activities and community interaction. Meals are provided, though some residents may choose to prepare meals in their own kitchens. Many RCFEs provide personal care assistance and various levels of resident supervision. Medication may be dispensed, but assisted living facilities do not provide medical staff.

What an Administrator Does
An Assisted Living Administrator is a certified manager who oversees the daily operations of the facility, including administrative, marketing, direct patient services and rehabilitation. The RCFE certification program trains potential administrators in all facility services. Matching patients to their needs is the primary function of an RCFE administrator.

How To Obtain Certification
If you are over age 21 and have a high school diploma or GED, you qualify to register for RCFE training. The course involves 80 hours of online and in-person instruction, a 100-question exam and a background check. The certification generally costs around $600 and can be completed in as little as a couple of months. Cost for materials and licensing are extra and can vary based on location and facility size.

Administrators also need to stay current by completing continuing education during each two-year certification period; a portion of those hours must pertain to serving residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Training is also available for your staff. If your facility provides medication distribution, your staff will need the medication training unit.

If you’ve always wanted to work in the eldercare industry, managing a residential care facility is a good way to start making a difference. California’s certification program is standardized and easy to qualify for with a high school diploma. If you are looking for a change and love eldercare services, this certification may be a great place to start.

Working with Older Adults

If you’re interested in working with older adults, there are several different career options to choose from. You could manage senior travel programs and coordinate international group trips to world famous destinations. You could work in the field of health and wellness and teach nutrition or exercise classes. You could also work in a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly, or RCFE, as long as you have your rcfe certification.

What is an RCFE?
RCFE stands for Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. This is a formal classification for assisted living facilities within the state of California that are dedicated to older adults. There are many different kinds of facilities with varying levels of care, from light supervision and daily medication administration to full time care that includes assistance with feeding, hygiene, and regular day to day activities.

What Kinds of Jobs are Available?
Some of the kinds of jobs available include executive director, meal services coordinator, residential program manager, financial manager, and several administrative support positions. Although it may not be required for a specific job, it’s a very good idea to get your rcfe certification before you apply to them. This initial certification meets state training requirements and helps ensure that you will have the information you need to be successful in your field. You will obtain valuable information and prove to the interview panel that you’re serious about wanting to work in the field.

How to Get Certified?
To obtain certification you need to take 60 hours of in-person classroom instruction, which needs to be taught be a licensed instructor. You also need to complete an additional 20 hours of online training. After you complete all the necessary coursework, you need to pass a state exam with a score of at least 70%. If you pass the exam you need to send an application and payment to the State of California, and they will mail your certificate to you.

Getting Certified to Work in Assisted Living Facilities

If you’re interested in becoming a manager or administrator of a Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE) in the state of California, you will need to obtain an RCFE certification. Getting certified in some fields of expertise can be difficult and overwhelming for some people, but the process of getting certified to become an RCFE Administrator is really straight forward. Here are the steps that you need to take in order to get your RCFE certification.

Certification Pre-Requirements
Applicants must meet a few requirements before they begin the certification process. You must be at least 21 years old. You need to have completed high school or possess a GED. You must also have the knowledge and ability to provide supervision and care to others.

RCFE Certification Classes
You must complete a total of 80 hours of certified RCFE classes. Up to 20 hours of these classes can be taken online, and completed at your convenience. A total of 60 hours must be completed in person by a certified course instructor. You can do the coursework concurrently, you don’t need to wait to finish your online coursework before you begin live classes. You must attend all of the in person classes in order to take the state exam, though, so make sure you schedule the class for a time when you can reliably attend.

Pass the State Exam
The State of California requires applicants to take the standardized state test within sixty (60) days of completing all of their coursework. When you select your courses make sure you will be available to meet this deadline after their completion. There are 100 test questions, and the exam is open book. You must score at least 70% to pass.

Submit Application
You will receive a congratulatory letter if you pass the exam. You must submit a certification application within thirty (30) days of receiving your congratulatory letter along with a check or money order in the amount of $100 in order to receive your certificate.