ASK AMY KOCH
A monthly column from the Executive Director of the Charles Ford Retirement Communities of New Harmony

How Nursing Expertise Sets the Charles Ford Retirement Community Apart from Other Assisted Living Communities

We asked Amy Koch, executive director at the Charles Ford Retirement Community, to tell us how nursing expertise sets the Charles Ford Retirement Community apart from other assisted living communities.  She explained:

“Even though we would be considered a small facility, our staff to resident ratio is excellent, and we believe it is extremely important to provide a licensed nursing professional, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as a part of our in-house staffing mix.   

“Skilled nursing professionals are trained and credentialed to assess the symptoms of a resident’s physical and psycho/social wellbeing.  Nursing professionals are prepared to provide direct resident care with assistance from additional supportive caregivers. This high level of expertise sets our facility apart, because most comparable assisted living facilities only staff a licensed nurse at the “on-call” or “on-campus” basis.  In such situations, primary care is often provided by alternate care givers.

“At the Charles Ford Retirement Community, when necessary, the nursing staff collaborates with other healthcare professionals to determine how to address an individual’s medical needs. For example, if a resident requires medication management, our licensed nurse coordinates with physicians and pharmacies for medication ordering, dispensing, delivery, administration and monitoring. 

“In some cases, the resident’s condition may mean the nursing professional must observe and manage vital signs or neurological symptoms. Other times, the resident’s condition could call for skin treatments or oxygen and/or respirator therapy support. Some residents require diabetes symptom management. Others need some type of support for activities of daily living, including assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, incontinence care and nutritional support and monitoring.  All of these services are enhanced when our nursing staff directs skilled care procedures.

“For additional protection, the Charles Ford Retirement Community, provides each resident with the emergency nurse call system, which is not only designed so residents can call for help at the bedside or in the bathroom, but also designed to be discreetly worn as a necklace or bracelet so they are able to alert the staff from anywhere on the property”.

Amy emphasizes that in a true emergency, “Seconds count, and in such critical situations, the immediate assessment of a skilled nursing professional is of utmost value.”