According to the United States Department of Health and Human Resources, nearly 10 million people required some form of long-term care in the year 2000. Of those, 37 percent were under the age of 65, while 63 percent of them were over 65. Since then, research has shown that the mass majority of individuals who live to the age of 65 will need long-term care during their lives.
What is Long Term Care Administration?
Are you interested in a long-term care administration career? Sometimes referred to as nursing home or assisted living administration, long-term care administration is a complicated and multifaceted field. It’s ideal for individuals who want to provide elderly and disabled patients with a higher quality of living. This includes overseeing both medical and personal care to ensure a longer and happier life. Professional administrators often serve as the head of operations in all things, from finances, cleaning, and maintenance to admissions, food services, and nursing.
Common ADLS
Dressing
Eating
Bathing
Using the bathroom
Transferring to or from bed
Common IADLs
Daily chores
Money management
Medication management
Meal preparation and cleanup
Grocery and clothing shopping
Communication assistance
Emergency responses
Pet care
While not everyone will require long-term care services, the older an individual is, the more likely the need is. Accidents and chronic illnesses can also result in the need for long-term care. It’s also important to note that, because women have slightly longer lifespans, they generally require care for longer than men do.
In most cases, long-term care services are provided by one of the following:
Unpaid caregivers (often family members or friends)
In-home nurses
Adult day care programs and centers
Long-term care facilities
The majority of long-term care is provided by family members, partners, or friends. In fact, approximately 80 percent of in-home caregivers are unpaid. The United States Department of Health and Human Resources reports that one in four adults were providing some form of long-term care to an adult or child in their family in 2009.
Despite the majority of long-term care being provided by close family and friends, there is still a great need for professional caregivers and facility-based care programs. This includes nursing homes, assisted living facilities, board and care homes, and continuing care retirement communities. These facilities are generally managed and lead by a long-term care administrator who establishes and ensures adherence to healthcare standards, makes policy, and supervises staff members.
Education Requirements & Certifications for Long Term Care Admin
If you are interested in becoming a long-term care administrator you will need to complete the necessary educational requirements. Advanced degrees are generally necessary. While there are some associate-level degree options available, most employers want, at minimum, for candidates to have an undergraduate degree in health administration or a similar field. In fact, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration, over 65 percent of health administration employers list a bachelor’s degree as a requirement on job postings.
A bachelor’s degree, however, may not be enough to grant you access to many positions. The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration also reported that almost 12 percent of health administration employers require candidates have a graduate degree and far more than that prefer it. With this in mind, it’s important to carefully consider your educational options before committing to a single course of action.
Accreditation is another factor that warrants serious consideration. Some employers do not recognize a bachelor’s or master’s degree unless it is from an accredited institution. The National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards and the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education are both generally considered acceptable. You can find a list of accredited colleges and universities by visiting either of these accreditation organization websites.
Bachelor's Degree in Long Term Care Administration
Depending on your specific situation, an associate’s degree may be a good place to begin your long-term care administration education. However, you should also plan to attain a bachelor’s degree in health administration, long-term care administration, or a related field. An undergraduate degree will qualify you for most entry-level positions.
There are numerous colleges and universities that offer undergraduate programs for people interested in long-term care administration. Because degree titles tend to vary, you should research each one thoroughly. Some relevant undergraduate degrees include:
Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management
Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration
Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Policy
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Arts in Health Services Administration
Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management
Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness
Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Additionally, the following is a list of some of the most prominent undergraduate institutions:
Bowling Green State University
Eastern Washington University
Ohio University
University of Scranton at Jesuit University
Shawnee State University
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Western Kentucky University
San Diego State University
While programs vary, especially from state to state, most undergraduate degrees consist of at least 120 credit hours of coursework. Some colleges and universities exceed this, however. In most cases, bachelor degrees can be completed within four years. This timeframe may shorten or lengthen depending on your individual circumstances. If, for example, you have college credits from upper-level high school classes or have already earned an associate’s degree, some courses may be waived. On the other hand, if you want complete additional certificates or can only attend school part-time, it can take longer.
Course requirements will differ depending on the program type and title, but common educational topics for long-term care administrators include:
Introduction to Public Health
Long-Term Care Administration
Medical Terminology
Health Care Organization and Administration
Health Care Supervision
Nursing Facility Administration
Health Care Technology
Health Law, Regulation, and Ethics
Health and Aging
Introduction to the Aging Experience
Budget and Policy for Health Services Managers
Healthcare Search Design and Method
Quality and Patient Safety in Long-Term Care
Population Health Management
Healthcare Finance
Master's Degree in Long Term Care Administration
A bachelor’s degree in health administration, long-term care administration, or a related field may be enough for entry-level positions, but a master’s degree is generally considered the field standard. You should plan to complete a graduate degree program if you intend to apply for upper-level administrative positions or want to make a higher salary.
There are many colleges and universities that offer graduate programs for people interested in long-term care administration. Because degree titles vary, you should research all of the potential options thoroughly. Some relevant graduate degrees include:
Master of Arts in Health Care Administration
Master of Business Administration in Health Administration
Master of Science in Health Care Administration
Master of Science in Health Services
Master of Science in Nursing
Master of Public Health
Master of Public Administration in Health Policy and Management
The following is a list of some of the most prominent institutions with applicable graduate degree programs:
Bowling Green State University
Eastern Washington University
Ohio University
Shawnee State University
University of Scranton at Jesuit University
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Western Kentucky University
San Diego State University
While programs vary, especially from state to state, most graduate degrees consist of at least 30 credit hours of coursework. Some colleges and universities exceed this, however. It’s not uncommon for programs to require as many as 60 credit hours of coursework. In most cases, master’s degrees can be completed within two years. This timeframe may shorten or lengthen depending on your individual circumstances. If, for example, you have extensive professional experience as a long-term care administrator, some courses may be waived. If, on the other hand, you are currently working and can only take courses part-time, it can take longer to finish.
Course requirements will differ depending on the program type and title, but common educational topics for long-term care administrators include:
Public Administration Theory and Behavior
Health Care Financial Management
Administrative Issues
Personnel Management and Leadership
Health Care Statistics and Research Methods
Health Care IT Management
Budgeting, Fiscal Policy, and Decision-Making
Health Services and Systems
Health Care Operations and Quality
Public Administration and Public Policy
Health Care Organization and Administration
Long Term Care Administration Certification or Continuing Education
In addition to completing an undergraduate and graduate degree program, you will also need to apply for a state license. All states, and the District of Columbia, require long-term care administrators to be licensed. Each state has its own credentialing process and requirements. In many cases, candidates must meet educational standards, complete an internship, and pass a licensing examination.
While some states choose to offer their own exam, many choose to partner with the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB). NAB offers a Nursing Home Administrator Exam (NHA), which consists of a 100-item Core of Knowledge exam and a 50-item Line of Service exam.
Once you’ve attained your license, you will also need to continue your education. Most states require long-term care administrators to renew their license regularly. All but five states include continuing education as a renewal requirement. There are many organizations and programs that provide continuing education in the healthcare field, including NAB. Because every state is a little different, it’s very important that you familiarize yourself with your state’s specific standards after receiving your license.
Possible Job Titles and Roles
Long-term care administrators may not always be identified by this title. In fact, professionals in this field may have a wide variety of titles. Some of the most common include:
Administrator
Executive Director
Director of Nursing Services
Long-Term Care Administrator
Assistant Long-Term Care Administrator
Director of Long-Term Care
Nursing Home Administrator
Assisted Living Administrator
Assisted Living Manager
Vice President of Health and Wellness
Additionally, every long-term care facility is a little different and staff responsibilities vary greatly depending on size and patient type. As such, long-term care administrators may be expected to perform any and all of the following:
Daily facility operations
Financial planning
Staff management and leadership
Policy creation and enforcement
Staff hiring, training, evaluating, and retention
Patient care
Public education
Marketing
Disease and pharmaceutical control
Compliance with regulations and legislation
Patient rights protection
Needs assessment
Salary and Career Outlook
Overall, most long-term care administrators receive a competitive salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health services managers made an estimated average salary of $111,680 in 2017. Nursing care facilities and home health care services account for a significant amount of health administrator employment, but the industry does fall slightly below the above-mentioned average. These facilities tend to pay an average annual wage between $92,750 and $99,220.
The states that pay medical and health services managers the most include:
Alaska
California
New York
Connecticut
Delaware
New Mexico
North Carolina
Maryland
Rhode Island
Maine
New Hampshire
District of Columbia
Job outlook for long-term care administrators is also promising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently predicted that there will be a significant increase in the number of medical and health services manager positions in the United States. In fact, that demand for these professionals is estimated to increase 20 percent between the years 2016 and 2026. This rate of growth is considered much faster than the average for other professions.
While there are many contributing factors responsible for this predicted increase, the most likely reason is the aging of the baby-boomers. This generation makes up a huge portion of today’s population. As they age, the demand for quality long-term care services will undoubtedly increase. To accommodate this demand, the healthcare industry will need to hire additional physicians and nurses, as well as open more practices to house them. Correspondingly, it will be necessary to find additional long-term care administrators to oversee, organize, and manage the new staff, services, and facilities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also asserts that job outlook is particularly good for medical and health services managers who have a graduate degree and have experience with electronic health records, health information technology, and informatics systems.
You will certainly need to be certain when it concerns the function of efficient leadership in long-term care. If you are a leader, you are going to have to take an active role in aiding other individuals that are experiencing the same things as you are.
A caring as well as thoughtful person is most likely to need to deposit his/her self-involvements and work together with others to develop a better setting for the individuals. An effective leader has to understand just how to listen to the needs of the patients to ensure that they can take advantage of their solutions. If you are a caring and also caring individual, you will certainly be able to see that your role as an efficient leader in long term care is to interact with your team to help them produce a nurturing atmosphere that will certainly help clients who are in your care to be better.
Sometimes it can be annoying to have a superior level of interaction with the staff. The feeling of aggravation might cause the team member feeling like they do not have adequate control over the everyday activities and that they are being marginalized.
The most vital thing to do is to remember that the individuals are the ones that supervise what goes on in the healthcare facility. If you allow this to occur, you will be providing what they actually want, which is to feel like they are in charge.
As a leader in long term care, you are required to focus on the sensations of the patients so that you have the ability to learn how to successfully lead. Some people simply rise in the early morning and also most likely to function without giving it much idea, but if you are mosting likely to be effective as a leader, you are going to need to make a dedication to being existing during the day-to-day tasks.
If you intend to end up being a reliable leader in long term care, you need to deal with it on your own by eating right and also exercising consistently. You will also need to be mentally in shape and also have the resolution to go the distance in order to accomplish your objectives.
When you get your mental attitude right, you will have a higher opportunity of leading individuals you deal with. For example, you must not just respect the patients, however you should likewise want the positive elements of the work.
The greatest benefit of being an effective leader in long-term care is that it will provide you the possibility to learn from those who are doing well in this area. These people may have the correct skills and also the training that you require to be successful.
The duty of an effective leader in long term care administrator is to have a solid personality to ensure that you can command regard from the staff. At the same time, you should be positive and also be willing to help other people to raise their morale and also to learn brand-new things also.
In order to discover these abilities, you should pick up from somebody who already recognizes just how to do it. You should initially look for the recommendations of the seasoned leaders in your area before you delve into the skills of being an efficient leader in long term care.
One more essential facet of being an effective leader is that you need to be able to supply leadership abilities to others. This will certainly assist you to aid create a stable atmosphere for individuals who are working under you to ensure that they are less likely to experience the disappointments of being neglected of the running.
To become an efficient leader in long term care administrator, you need to take an active duty in aiding others. Take the time to listen to the voices of the people you deal with and discover just how to lead others in order to develop a recovery setting that will certainly benefit every person in the long term care community.