Health Services
A Caring Approach
Oaknoll employs a great team of certified staff at all levels of care.
Independent Living
Nurses/Certified Nursing Assistants
The Health Center is staffed 24 hours a day with professionals who are responsible for coordinating all nursing activities in the Health Center. Registered Nurses work together with the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s) to provide for the physical, emotional, and overall well-being of all residents. The nurses administer medications according to each individual residents doctor’s orders. Medications are ordered from a contracted pharmacy.
Assisted Living
As time goes on, additional help may be needed to maintain an independent, active lifestyle. Oaknoll’s Assisted Living provides additional help at no extra cost to you. The Assisted Living nurses and aides can help with dressing, bathing, medications, or doctor’s appointments. Residents are reassured knowing that health care staff are close and available 24 hours a day. An emergency call button pendant is provided to every Assisted Living resident.
Assisted Living offers a variety of apartment sizes and floor plans. Each apartment has a kitchenette, living room and bedroom with its own bathroom. Before moving in, residents have the option to update the space to their preferences. All apartments must meet ADA requirements and comply with building code regulations appropriate for a licensed Assisted Living program.
In Assisted Living, residents enjoy weekly housekeeping, laundry services, and grocery shopping assistance/delivery. The Assisted Living has it’s own calendar of activities, programs and exercise classes. The recreation staff help create a sense of community and fun so that residents stay mentally engaged and socially active. They provide support to get residents to any Oaknoll offering they would like to attend.
Assisted Living Staff
Assisted Living is staffed 24 hours a day with a team of Registered Nurses, Certified Medication Aides, Assisted Living Techs and Certified Nursing Assistants. Certified Nursing Assistants assist with personal needs and cares to provide for the physical, emotional and overall well-being of the residents. There is at least one Registered Nurse, Certified Medication Aide or Assisted Living Tech to manage medication and treatment needs at all times of the day and night.
Therapy
There are a number of services onsite available to meet specific needs of residents.
- Physical therapy can assist with the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function, wellness, and quality of life. PT can assist with prevention of the onset, symptoms, progression of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities from diseases, disorders, condition or injuries. PT treats such medical diagnoses as pain, balance problems, weakness, stroke, Parkinson’s, osteoarthritis, after joint replacements, falls and bursitis. PT treatment includes postural training, muscle strengthening and stretching, home exercise programs, gait (walking) training, balance and coordination, modalities (heat, cold), manual therapy, and education (on diagnosis, modifications, exercise, etc.).
- Occupational therapy provides therapeutic treatment to maximize functional independence with daily tasks. OT addresses strength and range of motion of the shoulders, elbows, and hands. OT implements activities to increase fine and gross motor coordination, for example to improve handwriting. OT focuses on activities of daily living to increase independence with tasks such as dressing, toileting, bathing, cooking. and laundry. OT can assess residents for appropriate seating and positioning. For example, if a resident qualifies for a wheelchair, OT will assist in selecting a wheelchair to maximize functional mobility.
- Speech therapy provides treatment of swallowing disorders, cognitive or memory impairment, and expression of basic needs/communication. ST can assist with swallowing disorders by working on swallowing strategies, and strengthening of oral muscles. ST can work on cognitive impairments by working on tasks to improve memory, and/or strategies to assist with aiding memory.
Social Work
Social work is provided throughout the continuum of care (Independent Living, Assisted Living and the Health Center). Our social workers:
- Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to support residents and their families in Oaknoll’s LifeCare Community.
- Educate residents and their families regarding Oaknoll’s continuum of care and assist residents and families with necessary transitions.
- Provide psychosocial support and resources to residents experiencing difficulty.
- Refer residents to appropriate services within Oaknoll.
- Provide information for financial, legal, mental health or other resources in the Iowa City community.
- Assist with the coordination of hospice services.
- Assist residents with completing advance care planning documents.
- Participate in orientation for all new employees and in-service training for Oaknoll staff.
- Coordinate Caregiver and Grief Support Groups.
Dietician Services
Our Dietician works with the Director of Dining Services and the Executive Chef to evaluate and monitor all aspects of food service operations to conform to state and federal regulations. In addition, the Oaknoll Dietitian:
- Develops and evaluates menus for health center
- Nutritional assessment of health center residents
- Part of the multi-disciplinary care plan team
- Provides yearly and as needed in-services for dietary staff
- Dietician available for nutritional counseling for independent residents upon request