#WeAreHealthCare: Benchmark Proudly Celebrating Nurses Week

Overview

The passion nurses bring to providing personalized care to our resident’s health is priceless. They play a vital role in the lives of our residents in senior living and long-term care; from providing needs-based care to emotional support and companionship, nurses help promote a longer, happier, healthier way of life. National Nurses Week was established to honor nurses who make a tremendous impact in the healthcare system and in the lives of residents each and every day, and Benchmark is proud to celebrate nurses, specifically those working with seniors. 

History of Nurses Week

National Nurses Week is celebrated from May 6th to the 12th, ending on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is often considered the “founder of modern nursing.” National Nurses Week is a time when communities and healthcare organizations join together to say “thank you” for the hard work and compassion nurses bring to their fields. This tradition dates back to 1982 when Ronald Reagan declared May 6th National Recognition Day for Nurses and has since been expanded to a week-long celebration since 1991. 

Florence Nightingale redefined what it meant to be a nurse by calling for moral values in the field that have been upheld to this day: patience, trustworthiness, morality, and compassion.  These values may sound familiar because they perfectly describe our associates at Benchmark Senior Living. We’re honored to celebrate nurses in elder care and to spread the message of appreciation throughout all our senior living communities.

A Nurse’s Role in Senior Care

Across Benchmark’s 64 communities with options for independent living, assisted living, memory, skilled nursing and respite care, our nurses play a vital role in upholding this culture of caring and human connection. Their specific tasks vary between states, senior living community policies, and the needs of the residents, yet collectively, our staff have gone through comprehensive training and have passed a national exam to become a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) , which differentiates their responsibilities from other general healthcare associates.

Nurses are key members of the collaborative health care team at Benchmark and are experienced at coordinating and communicating with families to develop and initiate care plans. Nurses play a crucial role in providing preventative care to seniors for chronic conditions such as heart disease,  arthritis, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease. As healthcare professionals, they can help seniors identify and manage these potential health risks by assisting with medication management, monitoring blood pressure and blood sugar levels, conducting physical assessments and assisting with activities of daily living. They can offer support for lifestyle changes such as exercise programs, stress reduction, smoking cessation and healthy eating habits. Nurses can provide education on the importance of medication compliance, diet, physical activity and social engagement to help reduce the risk of cognitive and physical decline. Along with other members of the healthcare team, they can also recommend the use of assistive devices or modifications to the senior living environment to improve mobility and reduce the risk of falls. The nurses at Benchmark help fulfill our mission of needs-based care to promote independence and dignity by showing respect and understanding for the aging process.  

Benchmark’s Appreciation

We’re passionate about celebrating the significant contributions of our nurses in aging care and raising awareness for the profound impact they have on the lives of our residents. Nurses are more than caregivers, and having a dedicated staff like ours means that loved ones are cared for socially, emotionally, and physically.  From memory care to assisted living and everything in between, the passion Benchmark associates bring to our residents’ lives does not go unnoticed, and this week is the reminder to give them thanks. Whether it’s a thank-you note or a few kind words, these gestures can go a long way in showing appreciation for the work of nurses in senior living communities. To all the nurses who are devoting their career to improving the lives of seniors everywhere and at Benchmark, your work is irreplaceable, and we’re so grateful for all that you do and for the unwavering commitment for excellence to our residents and their families.