Commit to training A best practice to mit- igate employee risk is training. Teaching workers how to not in- jure themselves or how


to diff use dangerous situations is the key to the prevention of employee incidents. About 75 percent of worker injuries can


be prevented by proper training, said Russo. “Employees usually get injured when they are not following proper protocols.” Since fraudulent claims can be an issue,


Silverado conducts an integrity test of all job applicants. Those most likely to bring a fraudulent claim will probably not pass the integrity test, said Russo. “If they don’t pass, we don’t hire them.” Once hired, training starts with the on-


boarding process. New hires typically re- ceive policy and procedure manuals. At New Perspective Senior Living, a pro-


vider with 21 locations, every team member is required to undergo training before they deliver care to residents. The orientation lasts three days and includes hands-on skills training. “The best thing we can do as an in- dustry is to equip our team members,” said Pam Engle, senior vice president of people and administration at New Perspective. “It’s all about training.” New team members practice on manne-


quins in order to avoid the risk of hurting an- other worker or resident. Team members are taught how to safely transfer, lift, bathe, and move someone. “They learn how to do ev- erything on the mannequin fi rst,” said Engle. “We do not want the fi rst time they attempt a transfer to be on a resident.” Team members receive instruction on


how to wash their hands, a vital procedure to control the spread of common illnesses. A special substance—only visible under a black light—is put on the hands. Workers wash their hands and then inspect them under the black light to see if all of the sub- stance has been washed off . The process reinforces proper hand washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. “It’s back to the basics,” said Engle. Ongoing training is important, too. New


safety techniques must be taught to employ- ees, and established procedures must be re- peated on a regular basis.


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The monthly staff meeting at every New


Perspective community has a training compo- nent. An annual calendar of monthly topics is created to insure all important procedures and policies are reinforced throughout the year. “There is no silver bullet with risk,” said


Engle, adding that it’s important to keep the training and the concepts simple because if the procedures are too complicated, the workers will forget how to implement them. “We keep repeating the basics,” she said. Company managers and department


heads attend the training sessions, too. “If a caregiver needs help, the manager has to jump in,” noted Engle. “Everybody is on duty all the time. You have to be equipped to help.” Multiple touch points for training are key


at Pathway to Living, a senior living provider with 25 communities. Team members receive training when they start the job and then face- to-face training monthly. A safety topic is in- troduced each month, such as how to handle a fi re, or how to prevent falls. The sessions include input from team members on poten-


tial problems, such as a leaking ice machine that could cause someone to slip and fall or a buckled carpet that could pose a risk. Dis- cussions also include details on actual injuries and hazardous situations. “We are transparent with our team members,” said Maria Oliva, chief operating offi cer at Pathway to Living. Online training through the company’s


in-house training platform, Pathway Uni- versity, is required monthly. Also, employees are cross-trained. For example, a life enrich- ment aide may be trained to help the dining staff . “We want our workers to be familiar with the duties of other departments so they can stay safe if they help out there,” said Lisa Rogers, director of human resources at Pathway to Living. Workers should be trained how to assess


a situation before attempting a transfer, according to Michael Rivas, senior vice president of risk management services at Assurance. About 54 percent of workers’ compensation claims by assisted living com- panies are related to injuries from resident


RISK MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING CAREGIVERS


Pam Engle, senior vice president of people and administration at New Perspective Senior Living, shared these six tips for training caregivers on best practices for risk management:


• Be aware of your capabilities.


• Understand the requirements of your job.


• Analyze the condition of the resident who needs help.


• Arrive prepared to help.


• Know how to use assistive equipment.


• Have another team member available, if needed.


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