Heritage Ministries announces the graduation of a new class of Nurse Aide Trainees (NATs).  This class not only marks the first trainees to graduate in 2012, but also the advancement of three nurse aide graduates that will go on to train as Home Healthcare Aides (HHAs) for the new Orchard Grove Residences at The Woodlands.

Heritage Ministries offers paid nurse’s aide training housed at Heritage Green.  The program is 24 days long consisting of more than 100 training hours and 35 hours of clinical practice at one the Heritage Ministries 3 skilled nursing facilities.  Training includes in classroom instruction, clinical with direct resident care and in facility testing. Once students pass standardized testing they earn the tile of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

CNAs are a vital part of the Heritage Ministries skilled nursing facilities, providing hands on resident care.  The three NAT graduates that will move on to become certified HHAs will be providing direct care to the residents in the new assisted living program, Orchard Grove Residences.  HHAs will be responsible for assisting residents with personal care, cooking, cleaning, and promoting activities including resident involvement in typical household chores.

The Orchard Grove Residences are “small-house” model assisted living; each “household” will consist of twelve private resident rooms with private baths with a common, family-style kitchen, living and dining room.  “Household” style assisted living facilities encourage seniors to take an active role in their individual care, along with actively participating in the routine of everyday living.

Sherri McCall administrator of the Orchard Grove Residences stated, “We congratulate all of the recent NAT graduates and look forward to working with those that will be continuing on to become certified HHAs.  Each of the graduates that we have hired on to become the future HHAs comes to us with a passion for what they do, which will be instrumental in helping us to carry out the Heritage mission statement; to provide Hope, Dignity & Purposeful Living.   I look forward to starting this journey, working along side a great team of staff.”

To learn more about "small-house" model Assisted Living please visit our Orchard Grove Residences Page.