“I am always looking for affordable educational opportunities, but don’t find many that are close enough to attend,” said Kathryn Nachreiner, who has managed a residential care home in Plain, Sauk County, for 14 years. Kathryn was excited to participate in a one-day conference for direct care staff at Southwest Technical College in Fennimore, organized …
Direct care workers meet the daily needs of older adults in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and continuing care retirement communities, and greatly impact the care provided by hospitals and home health agencies. Yet most have limited access to educational opportunities. The CARE conference is changing that.
The world of the certified nurse assistant (CNA) is full of contradictions. They describe their work as monotonous, stressful and dangerous—but also rewarding. They provide nearly all the direct care for older adults in long-term care settings, and frequently wind up being the main liaison between family members and licensed care providers. Yet they are …