Long Term Care Administrator
Why Is a Long-Term Care Administrator a Job of Tomorrow?
The healthcare industry will always be recession proof. No matter what state the economy is in, or what trends come and go, people will always be in need of healthcare professionals. Inevitable illnesses and other health-related conditions keep physicians, nurses, and other medical staff in constant demand. As the world population increases, this demand will only heighten, making healthcare one of the fastest growing industries today. As the population ages, the country’s need for long-term care administrators will rise in relation to the elderly population. Employment positions for administrative and management jobs, including long-term care administrators, are expected to see a 12 percent growth in opportunities by 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Long-term care administrators made an average of $56,628 in 2005, according to the latest information available from Michigan’s official Health Careers site.
What Does a Long-Term Care Administrator Do?
Long-term care administrators provide assistance and attention to elderly patrons who cannot function independently due to their advanced age. Many long-term care administrators operate nursing home facilities that house, care for, and entertain senior citizens, providing them with a comfortable living situation, luxury amenities, as well as proper healthcare guidance. The demand for long-term care administration is expected to continue to rise well into the next decade as baby boomers reach their senior years. The elderly make up about 13 percent of the total population, and this number is projected to increase to 18 percent by 2030, according to the School of Public Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University. With these rising figures, the need for nursing homes and administration becomes more evident. Long-term care administrators have a variety of responsibilities, including handling the residents’ medicinal requirements, creating and implementing facility policies, processing admissions to the facility, and handling the financial aspect of running a nursing home or assisted living establishment.
What Kind of Training Do I Need to Become a Long-Term Care Administrator?
Long-term care administrators must hold a master’s degree in health administration in order to work professionally. The degree must be awarded from an accredited program of study. Courses in the master’s programs typically cover general and financial management, public health, and medical laws and ethics. This allows program graduates to leave with the in depth knowledge and skill necessary to successfully run an assisted living facility and care for others, as well as handling other medical staff to ensure that the facility runs smoothly.
