Neway Directions trains future CNAs for employment in various types of facilities. Have you ever wondered what these facilities are and how they operate? Keep reading to learn more about each facility and the differences and similarities between them.
Assisted Living Facilities
An assisted living facility is a housing facility for people who are disabled or are unable to live independently or choose not to live independently.
It is commonly compared to retirement homes because of the similarities. However, assisted living facilities are different from retirement homes because most assisted living facilities have a home-like, social atmosphere instead of a clinical one.
The typical resident that resides in this type of facility is an older person who is not exactly in need of nursing home care, but is in need of assistance for a few daily living activities. These facilities usually do not offer 24-hour nursing care.
Community-Based Residential Facilities
A community-based residential facility (CBRF) is a medium-sized or large facility with at least five unrelated residents who reside there. There could be 5-200 residents living there depending on the building.
This facility is a type of assisted living facility and it typically has up to three hours of nursing care per week.
Home Health Care
Unlike assisted living facilities and community-based residential facilities, home health care takes place in a patient’s home.
The healthcare that a CNA provides to the patient may include:
- Wound care
- Patient and caregiver education
- Intravenous or nutrition therapy
- Injections
- Monitoring serious illness and unstable health status
Home health care maintains the patient’s feeling of independence and depending on the number of hours the CNA works, it can be less expensive than communal facilities for the resident.
Hospice
Hospice care centers focus on terminally-ill patients to reduce any pain that the patient is feeling without eliminating the inevitable cause of the pain.
The goal for hospice care is to provide emotional support to the patient and grant any individual wishes as their time comes closer.
A typical patient that requires this care is a terminally-ill person who has less than 6 months to live.
Hospitals
A hospital is a health institution where medical and surgical treatment is provided for people who require it along with nursing care.
Hospital CNAs are usually found assisting the nursing staff of a hospital, which include answering calls, monitoring heart monitors of patients, cleaning and feeding patients, etc.
Medical Clinics
A medical clinic is a building or part of a building that contains a line of clinical offices, commonly known as “the doctor’s office”.
In order for patients to receive treatment from a medical clinic, they have to create an appointment (although some medical clinics accept walk-ins).
CNAs that work in a medical clinic prepare exam rooms, make appointments, answer calls, record patient information, and more.
Nursing Homes
A nursing home is a private institution that houses and provides care for elderly and disabled people.
The typical patients that reside here do not require hospital care, but cannot live independently in their homes.
CNAs are on hand 24 hours a day to aid patients with their daily needs.
After learning about all of the facilities that Neway Directions trains you for, you’re probably wondering how to begin looking for employment as a CNA. Be sure to visit our Employment Services page for additional information on our Career Placement Services.