LTC celebrates 40th National Nursing Assistants Week

National Nursing Assistants Week is a chance for providers and residents to recognize the hard work and dedication of the staffers responsible for the lion’s share of day-to-day care for senior residents.

In many nursing homes, no one knows the residents better than the nursing assistants, who often form close relationships with them while assisting with activities of daily living.  Nursing assistants are often the first to notice subtle signs of physical or mental change—a dry patch of skin, a depressed mood or the loss of appetite. Through daily contact, especially under consistent staffing methods, nursing assistants also fulfill important socialization and communication roles with residents, who sometimes grow to trust them like family.

Now in its 40^th year, National Nursing Assistants Week (June 15-22, 2017) encourages nursing homes and other long-term/post-acute care settings to provide educational programs on person-centered care, promote team-based staff models and highlight worker safety by increasing awareness of safe lifting protocols.

“In order to make a difference, we need to seek out and involve our role models, peers, supervisors, clients, families, community, legislators, public policy officials, media and others,” notes a National Network of Career Nursing Assistants article.  “Nursing Assistants Week provides a venue to bring folks together to create partnerships, projects and programs that will continue throughout the year for the benefit of all.”

Pamela Tabar

Pamela Tabar was editor-in-chief of I Advance Senior Care from 2013-2018. She has worked as a writer and editor for healthcare business media since 1998, including as News Editor of Healthcare Informatics. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in English from the University of York, England.